EFFECTS OF TESTOSTERONE ON TUMOR-INDUCTION AND EPIDERMAL GROWTH-FACTOR PRODUCTION IN THE MOUSE SUBMANDIBULAR-GLAND

To determine whether testosterone administration was capable of modify ing salivary gland carcinogenesis, female mice were given 1 mg of 9,10 -dimethyl-1,2-benzanthracene (DMBA) into the left submandibular gland and then Group 1 mice received 5 mg of testosterone propionate and Gro up 2 mice received vehicle, olive oil, subcutaneously for 8 weeks. Twe lve weeks after the start of the experiment, the weight of the left su bmandibular gland of the Group 2 mice was greater than that of the Gro up 1 mice. The incidences of submandibular gland carcinoma in Groups 1 and 2 were 41% (12/29) and 57% (17/30), respectively. Epidermal growt h factor (EGF) levels of the left submandibular gland were significant ly higher in Group 1 as compared with Group 2. These findings indicate that testosterone increases the production of EGF in the DMBA-injecte d submandibular gland, but does not promote the development of submand ibular gland carcinoma.