Splenic fibrosis and sarcomas in F344 rats fed diets containing aniline hydrochloride, p-chloroaniline, azobenzene, o-toluidine hydrochloride, 4,4'-sulfonyldianiline, or D & C red No. 9.

In six carcinogenicity bioassays, male and female F344 rats were fed diets containing aniline hydrochloride (CAS: 142-04-1; hydrochloride benzenamide), p-chloroaniline (CAS: 106-47-8), azobenzene (CAS: 103-33-3), o-toluidine hydrochloride (CAS: 636-21-5), dapsone (CAS: 80-08-0; 4,4'-sulfonyldianiline), or D & C red No. 9 [CAS: D85500000; 5-chloro-2-[2-hydroxy-1-naphthalenyl)azo)-4-methylbenzenesulfon ic acid, barium salt]. The rats, from 6 weeks to 2 years old, were given the compounds at two dose levels, the estimated maximum tolerated dose and one-half that dose. In all six bioassays, dose-dependent incidences of splenic sarcomas and fibrosis were seen, with the highest incidences in male rats. Fibrosis occurred in the splenic parenchyma and/or the capsule. Fatty infiltration also was seen in the spleen. Sarcomas appeared to arise in the splenic red pulp or splenic capsule, usually in association with areas of parenchymal and capsular fibrosis and pigmentation. Larger tumors metastasized to the peritoneal cavity and abdominal organs. In some rats there was marked osseous metaplasia when the primary tumor metastasized to peritoneal surfaces. Other, less common, splenic neoplasms included hemangiosarcoma and hemangiopericytoma. Some rats had such extensive peritoneal involvement that the site of origin of their sarcoma was difficult to determine.