High susceptibility of heterozygous (+/fa) lean Zucker rats to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene-induced mammary carcinogenesis

Susceptibility to 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA)-induced mammary carcinogenesis was investigated in lean Zucker (+/fa) rats carrying one mutated leptin receptor gene and wild-type controls (+/+). Rats with both genotypes were given a single DMBA administration and divided into two groups, one group was fed on basal diet mixed with 10% corn oil and the other was fed on basal diet alone. The minimum latency period of palpable carcinomas in +/fa rats of both groups was 8 weeks following DMBA treatment, in contrast to the 11-12 weeks in +/+. The incidence and multiplicity of carcinomas increased or showed a tendency for increase in the early stages in +/fa rats of both groups as compared to the +/+ counterparts. The volumes of carcinomas showed a tendency to increase in the corn oil diet groups of both genotypes. The major histopathological phenotype of carcinomas in all groups was well-differentiated without distinct atypia (multiplicity, 0.69-1.09/rat), but moderately/poorly differentiated carcinomas with atypia were also found, predominantly in +/fa rats (0.09-0.21). These latter tumors were characterized by elevated ERK activity but not estrogen receptor expression. Serum leptin concentrations in +/fa rats at 7 weeks of age were higher than those in +/+ and were elevated by the corn oil diet; however, no obvious change was detected in other serum parameters examined. In conclusion, +/fa rats proved more susceptible to DMBA-induced mammary carcinogenesis than +/+ controls, and hyperleptinemia was suggested to contribute to tumor growth as well as to susceptibility to tumorigenesis and more aggressive phenotypes in Zucker lean rats.