Abstract: The mandatory use of beagle dogs for chronic toxicological testing of contraceptive steroids has eliminated some useful products from the market, and stopped development of new compounds. Mammary tumour formation in beagle bitches is induced by some progestogens, including progesterone, but not in other laboratory species, such as rodents or monkeys. Most beagle mammary tumours induced by progestogens are of the benign mixed type, though a small minority are malignant. As all the evidence to date suggests that oral contraceptives have a protective effect on the occurrence of breast neoplasms in women, the beagle findings are irrelevant to the human situation. Possible reasons for the unique response of the beagle to progestogens are discussed.
Publication Year: 1977
Publication Date: 1977-08-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 27
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