SPECIFIC INDUCTION OF HEPATOCELLULAR ADENOMAS BY TRANSPLACENTAL ADMINISTRATION OF ENU IN THE TSC2 GENE MUTANT (EKER) RAT

Eker rats develop dominantly inherited renal carcinomas (RCs), with he reditary mutation, and following somatic mutation (Knudson's second hi t) at tuberous sclerosis gene (Tsc2). We document the effect of transp lacental administration of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea to Eker (Eker/+) and non-Eker (+/+) rats (same genetic background). Although we observed no difference in the number of preneoplastic 'traditional' GST-P positiv e foci between Eker and non-Eker rats, interestingly we observed the s pecific development of hepatocellular adenomas only in Eker rats. The Tsc2 gene mutation might thus influence the phenotype of preneoplastic initiated hepatocytes.