Increased cancer incidence in the progeny of male rats exposed to ethylnitrosourea before mating

Results from previous experiments have indicated the persistence of an increased cancer risk in subsequent generations following prenatal exposure to a chemical carcinogen. In the present experiment, the possible role of prezygotic events in determining cancer risk was investigated in the progeny of male rats treated with ethylnitrosourea (ENU) before mating with untreated females. Eight BDVI male rats were given a single i.p. dose of 80 mg/kg bw ENU and each rat was then caged at weeks 1, 2, 3 and 4 after treatment with three untreated females. Fertility was lower and preweaning mortality higher in the experimental group, as compared to controls, particularly at the 4th‐week mating. Survival rates after weaning were similar in the progeny of treated males and controls, as was the total incidence of tumours. However, analysis of tumour incidence at the various organ sites showed an increased incidence of neurogenic tumours in the progeny of ENU‐treated males, as compared to that of controls.