Decrease of colonic dysplastic lesions induced by 1,2–dimetylhydrazine in butyric acid supplemented rats

Abstract

The butyric acid is considered as an anticancerigenous compound in several models of experimental carcinogenesis. It is one of the end products of the non–gaseous fermentation carried out by the microbial anaerobic flora of the mammalian large bowel and rumen. The milk and dairy products are the main source of butyric acid among the animal products. The aim of this study was to determine the antitumorigenic effect of butyric acid on the development of dysplastic lesions, considered as unequivocal histologic markers of colon cancer in its initial state, in 1,2–dymethylhidrazine–treated rats. Six–week–old Wistar male rats with average body weight of 160 g were used. Butyric acid was administered diluted in drinking water at the dose of 4 mg/ml for 26 weeks. Dysplastic lesions in the large bowel were induced by a weekly subcutaneous injection of 1,2–dymethylhidrazine during 17 and 5 times to respective sub–groups. Less incidence of dysplastic lesions was observed in butyric acid–supplemented groups, both in sub–group with 17 inoculations and in the sub–group with 5 inoculations, compared to control sub–groups (without supplementation). The dysplastic lesions also isplayed variation in the mucin content depending on the severity of the dysplasia. We conclude that the use of butyric acid as an antitumorigenic compound, would be the reason for the marked decrease on the development of precarcinomatous lesions, considered as important precursors of colon carcinomas. Key words: rat, dysplastic lesions, colon cancer, butiric acid, dymethylhidrazine.