1-Methyl-i -nitmosourea (MNU) and 1-methyl-3-n itro-1-ni trosoguanidine (MNNG) are potent carcinogens which al kylate nucleic acids. Little is known about their reactions with nuclear proteins. Protein binding occurs via two mech anisms for each compound: alkylation (both), carbamoyla tion (MNU), or guanidination (MNNG). MNU and MNNG were obtained with 14Clabels to investigate these reactions. ...

PURPOSE A single systemic administration of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) causes retinal degeneration involving photoreceptor cell loss within 7 days. MNU-induced photoreceptor cell loss is due to apoptosis and is a reliable animal model for human retinitis pigmentosa. The purpose of this study was to determine if p53 contributes to the development of MNU-induced retinal degeneration in mice. ...

Primary loss of photoreceptors caused by diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa is one of the main causes of blindness worldwide. To study such diseases, rodent models of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU)-induced retinal degeneration are widely used. As zebrafish (Danio rerio) are a popular model system for visual research that offers persistent retinal neurogenesis throughout the lifetime and retina...

The methylating agent N-methylnitrosourea (MNU) is biased, surprisingly, in its carcinogenic potential toward the mouse thymus. Previous studies have shown that single doses of MNU administered to adult mice induced thymic lymphomas in over 80% of mice, while transgenic mice expressing high levels of the human O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase gene in the thymus (MGMT-CD2 transgenics) were p...

BACKGROUND/AIMS The pathphysiological properties of N-Methyl -N -nitrosourea (MNU) induced photoreceptor degeneration are similar to the hereditary retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The present study sought to explore the beneficial effects of the peonidin, a common aglycone form of anthocyanin, on the MNU induced photoreceptor degeneration via topographic measurements. METHODS The MNU administrated...

Here, we use telomerase-deficient mice, Terc(-/-), to study the impact of telomerase abrogation in response to treatment with the alkylating agent N-Methyl-N-Nitrosourea (MNU), a potent carcinogen in the mouse. Wild-type mice treated with MNU developed lymphomas and carcinomas. In contrast, similarly treated G5 Terc(-/-) mice with critically short telomeres did not develop tumors and died of ac...

BACKGROUND Astaxanthin (ASTA) is a fat-soluble xanthophyll with powerful antioxidant functions. It is extracted from e.g. salmon, an important food source for certain human populations known to have a reduced risk of tumor development. It is possible that ASTA plays a role in cancer chemoprevention in such populations. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of dietary ASTA on ...