Mammary tumor induction in inbred mouse strains with urethane is not accompanied by changes in expression of B- and C-type retroviral structural proteins.

Urethane administrated in the drinking water of breeding female mice of five inbred strains (DDf, KF, C3Hf, ddY and C57BL) leads to a higher incidence of mammary tumors at an extremely early age in four of these strains (DDf, KF, C3Hf and ddY). In the case of the DDf strain the tumors are adenoacanthomas, but in the case of the other strains adenocarcinomas are also observed. The effect of urethane in the drinking water on expression of endogenous retroviral structural proteins of the B and C type (MTV and MuLV) was studied in the milk by an immunodiffusion test and in organ extracts by radioimmunoassays (for MTVp27, MTVgp52 and MuLVp30). Organs tested include salivary glands, thymus and spleen from female and male animals. In addition, prostate and seminal vesicles were tested in male animals and uterus and mammary glands in females. Mammary tumors induced by urethane were also treated. Urethane does not induce or enhance endogenous retroviral antigen expression, either in these organs or in the mammary gland, one of the target organs for tumorigenesis by this agent.