Species and gender differences in the carcinogenic activity of trimethylolpropane triacrylate in rats and mice.
Inok Surh, Deepa B Rao, Mark F Cesta, Charles D Hébert, Jill F Mann, Helen Cunny, Grace E Kissling, David Malarkey, Rajendra S Chhabra
Author Information
Inok Surh: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA. Electronic address: surhi@niehs.nih.gov.
Deepa B Rao: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA; Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Mark F Cesta: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Charles D Hébert: Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL 35255, USA.
Jill F Mann: Southern Research Institute, Birmingham, AL 35255, USA.
Helen Cunny: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Grace E Kissling: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
David Malarkey: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Rajendra S Chhabra: National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
Trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) is a multifunctional monomer with industrial applications. To determine the carcinogenic potential, male and female F344/N rats and B6C3F1/N mice were administered TMPTA (0, 0.3, 1.0, or 3.0mg/kg) in acetone dermally for 2 years. There were no differences in the body weights and survival in the treated animals compared to controls. Nonneoplastic skin lesions at the site of application included epidermal hyperplasia and hyperkeratosis in both rats and mice. There were no incidences of tumors at the site of application in rats and mice. Rare malignant liver neoplasms were observed in female mice that included hepatoblastoma in the 0.3 and 3.0mg/kg groups, and hepatocholangiocarcinoma in the 1.0 and 3.0mg/kg groups. The incidences of uterine stromal polyp and stromal polyp or stromal sarcoma (combined) in female mice occurred with positive trends and the incidences were significantly increased in the 3.0mg/kg group. A marginal increase in the incidences of malignant mesothelioma in male rats may have been related to TMPTA treatment. In conclusion, our studies show that TMPTA is a dermal irritant in both rats and mice of either sex. Increased incidences of tumor formation were observed in female mice and male rats.
