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 hereditary mutation, and following somatic mutation (Knudson's second hit) at tuberous sclerosis gene (Tsc2). We document the effect of transplacental 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 GST-P positive foci between Eker and non-Eker rats, interestingly we observed the specific development of hepatocellular adenomas only in Eker rats. The Tsc2 gene mutation might thus influence the phenotype of preneoplastic initiated hepatocytes.