Implementation of Humean Endpoints in a Urinary Bladder Carcinogenesis Study in Rats

• Published in: In vivo (Athens) Vol. 31; no. 6; pp. 1073 - 1080
• Main Authors: OLIVEIRA, MÓNICA, NASCIMENTO-GONÇALVES, ELISABETE, SILVA, JESSICA, OLIVEIRA, A. PAULA, FERREIRA, RITA, ANTUNES, LUÍS, ARANTES-RODRIGUES, REGINA, FAUSTINO-ROCHA, I. ANA
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: International Institute of Anticancer Research 03.11.2017
• ISSN: 0258-851X; 1791-7549
• DOI: 10.21873/invivo.11172

Background/Aim: This study aimed to evaluate the utility of several biological parameters for the prediction of tumor development and animal welfare in a rat model of urinary bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: The control group (n=9) received tap water while the test group (n=12) received the carcinogen N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl) nitrosamine (BBN) in drinking water. A score sheet with biological variables was used to monitor animals’ welfare. Body weight, food and drink consumption and rectal temperature were measured weekly. Blood and urine samples were collected. Results: Animals from the control group exhibited a slightly higher body weight and body weight gain. The final urine volume was higher in BBN group (p<0.05). All animals from the BBN group exhibited macroscopic hematuria at 35th week. Four animals were anemic in the last week of the experiment. Conclusion: The routine control of hematuria was a useful non-invasive biomarker of disease progression that may be used as a potential earlier humean endpoint. Animals did not show clinical signs of suffering that justified their sacrifice before the end of the study.