A dose related carcinogenic response was established for dimethylnitrosamine administered in the diet of rainbow trout (Salmo gairdneri). An equation was derived for the relationship between dose and hepatocellular carcinoma incidence. From a published dose response study using Porton rats as a test animal, a second equation was derived for comparison. The rat and the trout were approximately equivalent in their sensitivity to dimethylnitrosamine carcinogenesis. The histological nature of the carcinogenic response in trout was similar to to that of mammalian species. Apart from carcinogenesis, no indications of chronic toxicity were observed after a one year feeding experiment. The median lethal dose after intraperitoneal injection of dimethylnitrosamine was 1,770 mg/kg body weight in rainbow trout. Relative to the range of 15 to 50 mg/kg body weight reported for several mammalian species, trout were resistant to the acutely toxic effects of dimethylnitrosamine. / Graduation date: 1977

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published_or_final_version / Biochemistry / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy