Chronic exposure to
toxaphene resulted in an increase in liver
tumors in B6C3F1 mice. This study was performed to investigate the mode of action of
toxaphene induced mouse liver
tumors. Following an initial 14 day dietary dose range-finding study in male mice, a mechanistic study (0, 3, 32, and 320 ppm
toxaphene in diet for 7, 14, and 28 days of treatment) was performed to examine the potential mechanisms of
toxaphene induced mouse liver
tumors.
Toxaphene induced a significant increase in expression of
constitutive androstane receptor (CAR) target genes (Cyp2b10, Cyp3a11) at 32 and 320 ppm
toxaphene.
aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) target genes (
Cyp1a1 and
Cyp1a2) were slightly increased in expression at the highest
toxaphene dose (320 ppm). No increase in
peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha activity or related genes was seen following
toxaphene treatment. Lipid peroxidation was seen following treatment with 320 ppm
toxaphene. These changes correlated with increases in hepatic
DNA synthesis. To confirm the role of CAR in this mode of action, CAR knockout mice (CAR(-/-)) treated with
toxaphene confirmed that the induction of CAR responsive genes seen in wild-type mice was abolished following treatment with
toxaphene for 14 days. These findings, taken together with previously reported studies, support the mode of action of
toxaphene induced mouse liver
tumors is through a nongenotoxic mechanism involving primarily a CAR-mediated processes that results in an increase in cell proliferation in the liver, promotes the clonal expansion of preneoplastic lesions leading to
adenoma formation.