Role of selenium and cabbage in colon carcinogenesis in mice.

Abstract

The influence of dietary selenium and cabbage on the formation of colon tumors in female Swiss mice treated with 1,2.dimethylhydrazine [(DMH) CAS: 540-73-8] was reported. Mice received a control diet (laboratory chow), the control diet plus selenium in the drinking water (1 mg/Iit~r), or the control diet with added cabbage (12.8 g/100 g diet). They also received 8 weekly sc injections of DMH. The experiment was divided into two time periodS: a) from 5 weeks before the first injection until 3 days after the lastone (initiation period), and b) the subsequent 19.5 weeks until secrifice of the mice (pr~motion period), Selenium had a strong protective effect when given during the initiation period; adenomas werereduced to a much greater extent than adenocarcinomas. The only effect of selenium supplementation in the promotion period wasa small decrease in adenomas. Cabbage apparently had two opposing actions. It increased tumor incidence, particularly adenocarcinomas, if given in the initiation period, but it reduced adenoma formation considerably when given in the promotion period.-