Preventive effect of vitamin D3 on lung tumor formation in balb/c mice

In order to elucidate the role of vitamin D in the genesis of lung tumors, we used an experimental model of lung lesions in mice induced by the administration of urethane. A total of inbred balb/c mice (male and female) 9-11 weeks old, were studied. They were divided into 3 groups. The first and second groups (U and U+D) were injected with urethane i.p, 600 mg/kg/day with 48 hours intervals for three times. The second group was given 3.5 mg/kg (6.3 mg/1000 ml) vitamin D with drinking water for 4 weeks after starting the injection by urethane. The third group served as control. Total remaining mice were killed after 20 weeks. Lung lesions were histopathologically characterized by hyperplasia, adenoma and adenocarcinoma in different groups. Tumor formation significantly increased in the urethane group as compared with control group (p<0.05) but there was not any difference between those receiving the (U+D) treatment group and the controls. It seems vitamin D inhibites genesis of lung tamors induced by the administration of urethane.