Effects of danazol on proliferation and viability of 7,12-dimethylbenz (a) anthracene-induced mammary tumours in rats
Yoshimura, S.; Sakamoto, S.; Kudo, H.; Suzuki, S.; Sassa, S.; Matsubara, M.; Nagasawa, H.
Anticancer Research 15(1): 61-65
1995
ISSN/ISBN: 0250-7005 PMID: 7733642 Document Number: 448806
The suppressive effects of danazol, an isoxazol derivative of a synthetic steroid 17-alpha-ethinyltestosterone, on cellular viability and DNA synthesis in 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene induced mammary tumours were investigated in adult female rats by enzyme assays and immunohistochemistry with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Rats treated with danazol for 30 days showed a decrease of plasma levels of luteinizing hormone and estradiol associated with a dysfunction in hypothalamohypophysial-gonadal axis, resulting in lower activities in succinate dehydrogenase and thymidine kinase, and a reduction of BrdU-immunoreactive cells in mammary tumours compared with the control, i.e., decreases of viability and pyrimidine nucleotide synthesis in tumour cells in danazol-treated rats.