۷,۱۲-Dimethylbenz[a]Anthracene induces gastric lesions and oxidative stress: A potential carcinogen for experimental studies

Background: Incomplete combustion of organic materials leads to the release of ubiquitous environmental pollutants known as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which pose serious threats to both human and animal health. ۷,۱۲-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA), as a preclinical carcinogenic PAH, is well known to induce mammary and skin carcinomas in animal cancer research. Methods: DMBA was purchased from Sigma Aldrich (Germany). ۱۲ adult (۴–۵ weeks old) male Wistar rats, acclimatized for one week and kept during this trial in the animal house of the Pasteur Institute of Iran at ۲۰-۲۳°C in a ۱۲h light/dark cycle under the relative humidity of ۶۰-۷۰%, were randomly divided into two groups: Control (six rats were gavaged with physiological saline) and DMBA groups (the other were gavaged at a single dose of ۲۵ mg/Kg B.W.). After ۸ weeks, all rats were anesthetized with intraperitoneal injections of Ketamine and Xylazine, and then dissected. The stomach tissues were sampled to analyze histopathologically and evaluate the oxidative stress marker, named the total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Results: The results showed that oral administration of DMBA has lessened TAC in gastric tissues compared to control group (P<۰.۰۰۰۱). On the other hand, DMBA has triggered severe hyperemia and cell necrosis, and mild inflammatory cell infiltration in stomach tissues. Conclusion: Eventually, the DMBA significantly weakened antioxidant capacity, which exhibits the potential carcinogenic properties of this hazardous compound in gastric tissues. Future studies incorporating prolonged treatment durations, higher dosing regimens, and a broader panel of stress-related biomarkers would substantially reinforce the current evidence base. However, additional research remains essential to elucidate the precise carcinogenic mechanism of action of DMBA for its potential application in future clinical cancer trials.

کلیدواژه ها:

DMBA ، Histopathology ، Stomach ، TAC ، Wistar rat