Effects of hickory-smoke condensate on development of pepsinogen 1-altered pyloric glands in rats.

Hickory-smoke condensate (HSC) is a popular food flavouring in the USA. Available data have suggested that this food additive has tumour-initiating/promoting potential. Accordingly, a commercial HSC has been investigated for its capacity to promote tumours in the rat glandular stomach using pepsinogen 1 (Pg 1)-altered pyloric glands (PAPG) as the marker of preneoplastic lesions. The development of PAPG initiated by a single intragastric administration of N-methyl-N'-nitroso-N-nitrosoguanidine was significantly increased by feeding rats a diet containing 5% HSC; no effect was observed with lower doses (1.25 or 2.5%) of HSC. The results suggest that HSC has weak tumour-promoting potential in the rat glandular stomach.