Carcinogenic effect of gibberellin A3 in Swiss albino mice.

Gibberellin A3 is a plant growth regulator used in many countries, including Egypt, to increase the growth of fruits and vegetables. The carcinogenic effect of gibberellin A3 was investigated in this study with Swiss albino mice. Administration of gibberellin A3 by gavage for 22 months induced a significant increase in their body weights. Tumors were induced in 18% of the males and 36% of the females and were located in the skin of the axillary region (sebaceous adenomas), breast (adenocarcinomas), and lung (adenocarcinomas and secondary metastatic deposits from breast tumors). Bronchocentric granulomas were induced in animals exposed to gibberellin A3 for 14 months. These results indicate that gibberellin A3 was carcinogenic in mice.