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Possible influences of circadian rhythms in experimental carcinogenesis

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Abstract

The induction of tumours by chemical carcinogens depends not only on the chemical structure of the substance but also on biological properties of the target cell population, such as enzyme patterns, DNA repair mechanisms and the proliferative state of the cells. Interference with any of these processes can theoretically affect the tumour yield, as can variations due to biological rhythms.

A series of investigations of circadian and circannual rhythms in the hairless mouse epidermis (hr/hr) is reviewed. DNA synthesis as well as the mitotic rate undergo great variations in the course of a 24-h period. The respiration and glycolysis in this epidermis undergo strong circannual variations. Evidence that the eventual tumour development after methylcholanthrene application to the skin is modified by circadian variations in DNA synthesis is presented and discussed in relation to pertinent data from other cell systems.

Zusammenfassung

Die Induktion von Tumoren mit chemischen Karzinogenen hängt nicht nur von der chemischen Struktur der Substanz ab, sondern auch von biologischen Eigenschaften der Zielzellpopulation, wie z. B. verschiedener Enzym-Muster, Repair-Mechanismen der DNS und der Proliferationsrate dieser Zellen. Jede Interferenz mit diesen Prozessen kann theoretisch die Tumorausbeute beeinflussen, wie auch Variationen durch biologische Rhythmen.

Es wird eine Übersicht über Untersuchungen der zirkadianen und zirkannualen Rhythmen an der Epidermis haarloser Mäuse (hr/hr) gegeben. Die DNS-Synthese wie auch die Mitoserate unterliegen großen Variationen im Verlauf einer 24-Std-Periode. Die Sauerstoffaufnahme und Glykolyse in dieser Epidermis weisen dagegen starke zirkannuale Variationen auf. Es gibt Anhaltspunkte dafür, daß die Tumorentwicklung nach einmaliger Methylcholanthren-Applikation auf die Haut von zirkadianen Variationen der DNS-Synthese modifiziert wird. Dies wird in Relation zu Daten anderer Zellsysteme diskutiert.

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Read at the Symposium “Relevance of Chronobiology for Toxicology and Pharmacology” held at the 16th Spring Meeting of the Deutsche Pharmakologische Gesellschaft, Section: Toxicology, March 6, 1975, Mainz

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Laerum, O.D. Possible influences of circadian rhythms in experimental carcinogenesis. Arch. Toxicol. 36, 247–254 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340532

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00340532

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