A Case of Olfactory Neuroblastoma Induced in A Rat by N-Nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine

N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP) is a well-known carcinogen and induces tumors in various tissues. In the present paper, a case of olfactory neuroblastoma (ONB) induced in a rat by BHP is described. The tumor was observed in one out of 25 male rats that received 2000 ppm of BHP in drinking water from 6 to 18 weeks of age and were sacrificed at 26 weeks of age. Histologically, the tumor arose in the posterior nasal cavity and consisted of small round cells and elongate cells with scant basophilic cytoplasm. The neoplastic cells proliferated with compartmentalization into the lobules by fibrovascular septa. True rosettes, pseudorosettes and an intercellular fibrillar matrix were occasionally observed. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for NF120/200 and β III-tubulin. These results indicate that the present tumor is the first case of ONB induced in a rat by BHP treatment.