ISLET-CELL TUMORS OF THE PANCREAS IN THE IRRADIATED AND NONIRRADIATED RAT
Adult male rats were irradiated with lugh sublethal (430 rad) or midlethal (680 rad) doses of x rays, and their tissues were examined histologically after spontaneous death. Of 141 irradiated rats, 18% developed pancreatic islet cell tumors, compared with 9.8% in unirradiated controls. Those receiving 430 rad had 19.0% and those receiving 680 rad had 17.2% incidences of the same tumor. All animals with islet cell tumors, except 1 control and 1 irradiated rat, had other endocrine neoplasms. Morphologically, the tumors resembled giant islets of Langerhans and were composed predominantly of beta cells. About half of the tumors showed some degree of capsular invasion. The tumors may arise de novo from pancreatic ductal epithelium as do normal islets, or, secondly, they may represent adenomatous transition or marked hyperplasia of pre-existing islets. Whether the increased frequency of islet cell tumors in the irradiated animals is due to a direct radiation effect on the islet cells or ductal epithelium or to indirect effects via other endocrine disturbances is unknown. (H.H.D.)
- Research Organization:
- Naval Radiological Defense Lab., San Francisco
- NSA Number:
- NSA-17-010432
- OSTI ID:
- 4721297
- Journal Information:
- Laboratory Investigation (U.S.), Journal Name: Laboratory Investigation (U.S.) Vol. Vol: 10; ISSN LAINA
- Country of Publication:
- Country unknown/Code not available
- Language:
- English
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