EFFECTS OF AZOXYMETHANE ON X-RAY-INDUCED INTESTINAL METAPLASIA IN DONRYU RATS

The present study was undertaken to determine the effect of azoxymetha ne (AOM) administration on intestinal metaplasia induced by X-irradiat ion in male Donryu rats. Five-week-old animals were X-irradiated with two doses of 10 Gy each at a 3-day interval or three X-ray doses of 10 Gy at a 2-day interval and then received AOM injections i.m. at a dos e of 15 mg/kg body weight once weekly for 3 weeks, 6 months after irra diation. Alkaline phosphatase positive foci were decreased after AOM t reatments, but aberrant crypt like-foci appeared within areas of intes tinal metaplasia. In contrast no induction was observed in normal-appe aring gastric mucosa.