Metabolic effects of pioglitazone in chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats.

In this paper, the effect of peroral antidiabetic pioglitazone, a thiazolidinedione derivate, on selected parameters of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism in N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced mammary carcinogenesis in female Sprague-Dawley rats was evaluated. Pioglitazone was administered in the diet at two concentrations (10 ppm and 100 ppm), the chemoprevention was initiated 12 days before carcinogenesis induction and lasted until the termination of the experiment. The experiment was terminated 17 weeks after carcinogenesis induction, selected organs and tissues were removed and weighed and basic metabolic and hormonal parameters were determined. Pioglitazone increased glycemia (without exceeding normal values) and glycogen concentration in both liver and heart muscle without altering insulinemia and increased triacylglycerol concentration in liver, these changes were more prominent in group with higher dose. Pioglitazone also reduced corticosterone serum concentration and attenuated lipid peroxidation. Pioglitazone and other glitazones may be useful in alleviation of unfavourable metabolic changes in cancer patients.