Basic Research
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2003. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Gastroenterol. May 15, 2003; 9(5): 1020-1027
Published online May 15, 2003. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v9.i5.1020
Effect of vanadium on colonic aberrant crypt foci induced in rats by 1,2 Dimethyl hydrazine
P Suresh Kanna, CB Mahendrakumar, T Chakraborty, P Hemalatha, Pratik Banerjee, M Chatterjee
P Suresh Kanna, CB Mahendrakumar, T Chakraborty, P Hemalatha, Pratik Banerjee, M Chatterjee, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032 (Calcutta), India
Author contributions: All authors contributed equally to the work.
Supported by financial assistance of Department of Science & Technology, Government of India for during execution of the study (Ref No. SP/SO/B36/2000 dated 4/7/2002)
Correspondence to: M Chatterjee, PO.17028, Division of Biochemistry, Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata-700032 (Calcutta), India. m_chatterjee@lycos.com
Telephone: +91-33-24146393 Fax: +91-33-24146393
Received: January 14, 2003
Revised: January 23, 2003
Accepted: February 19, 2003
Published online: May 15, 2003
Abstract

AIM: To investigate the chemo preventive effects of vanadium on rat colorectal carcinogenesis induced by 1,2-dimethylhydrazine (DMH).

METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley Rats were randomly divided into four groups. Rats in Group A received saline vehicle alone for 16 weeks. Rats in Group B were given DMH injection once a week intraperitoneally for 16 weeks; rats in Group C, with the same DMH treatment as in the Group B, but received 0.5-ppm vanadium in the form ammonium monovanadate ad libitum in drinking water. Rats in the Group D received vanadium alone as in the Group C without DMH injection.

RESULTS: Aberrant crypt foci (ACF) were formed in animals in DMH-treated groups at the end of week 16. Compared to DMH group, vanadium treated group had less ACF (P < 0.001). At the end of week 32, all rats in DMH group developed large intestinal tumors. Rats treated with vanadium contained significantly few colonic adenomas and carcinomas (P < 0.05) compared to rats administered DMH only. In addition, a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in colon tumor burden (sum of tumor sizes per animal) was also evident in animals of Group C when compared to those in rats of carcinogen control Group B. The results also showed that vanadium significantly lowered PCNA index in ACF (P < 0.005). Furthermore, vanadium supplementation also elevated liver GST and Cyt P-450 activities (P < 0.001 and P < 0.02, respectively).

CONCLUSION: Vanadium in the form of ammonium monovanadate supplemented in drinking water ad libitum has been found to be highly effective in reducing tumor incidence and preneoplastic foci on DMH-induced colorectal carcinogenesis. These findings suggest that vanadium administration can suppress colon carcinogenesis in rats.

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