Carcinogenicity of inhaled benzene in CBA mice.

This study investigated benzene-induced neoplasia in CBA/Ca mice, with special emphasis on hematopoietic tissues. Ten-week-old male CBA/Ca mice were exposed to 300 ppm benzene via inhalation for 6 hr/day, 5 days/week, for 16 weeks and held 18 months after the last exposure. There were 125 benzene-exposed and 125 sham-exposed mice. Malignant lymphoma was a statistically significant cause of early mortality in the benzene-exposed mice. Fourteen benzene-exposed mice developed lymphoma (lymphoblastic, lymphocytic, or mixed) as compared to only 2 sham-exposed mice. Benzene-exposed mice also developed preputial gland squamous cell carcinomas (60% in benzene-exposed vs 0% in sham-exposed) and had an increased incidence of lung adenomas (36% vs 14%). Moderate to marked granulocytic hyperplasia was present in benzene-exposed animals, with a 36% incidence in the bone marrow and 6% in the spleen, as compared to the sham-exposed with 8 and 0%, respectively. Interpretation of the granulocytic response as a direct effect of benzene was complicated by the presence of inflammation in the mice. Although inhaled benzene was clearly carcinogenic in CBA mice, it did not induce granulocytic leukemia.

Duke Scholars

Author Jeffrey Ira Everitt Pathology