Origin of induced pancreatic islet tumors: a radioautographic study

Journal Article · Sat Jan 31 23:00:00 EST 1987 · Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3181/00379727-184-42471· OSTI ID:6937574

Michels, J E; Bauer, G E; Dixit, P K

Endocrine tumors of the pancreas are induced in a high percentage of young rats by injections of streptozotocin and nicotinamide (SZ/NA). Benign tumors first appear 20 to 36 weeks after drug injections. To determine the possible site of their origin, the incorporation of (/sup 3/H)thymidine into islets, ducts, acini, microtumors, and gross tumors was examined by radioautography of histologic sections at 1 to 36 weeks after drug injection. Drug treatment led to early (1- to 6-week) increases in nuclear /sup 3/H labeling of exocrine pancreatic structures (ductal and acinar cells), which may involve DNA repair processes. A secondary increase in labeling of duct cells during the period of tumor emergence supports the assumption that SZ/NA-induced tumors are of ductal origin. Microtumors and gross tumors also exhibited markedly elevated rates of (/sup 3/H)thymidine incorporation compared to control islets. Nontumorous islet tissue, which exhibited a gradual decrease in volume due to B-cell destruction by the drug injection, showed about 10-fold higher /sup 3/H labeling than islets of controls at all time points. The results suggest that in addition to ductal precursors, islets that survive SZ/NA-induced injury may also provide sites of focal endocrine cell differentiation to tumor tissue. Once established, both microtumors and gross tumors continue to grow by accelerated cell division.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis
• OSTI ID: 6937574
• Journal Information: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Soc. Exp. Biol. Med.; (United States) Vol. 2; ISSN PSEBA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

550901* -- Pathology-- Tracer Techniques
59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
AMIDES
ANIMALS
AUTORADIOGRAPHY
AZINES
BODY
DIGESTIVE SYSTEM
DISEASES
DNA REPLICATION
ENDOCRINE GLANDS
ETIOLOGY
GLANDS
HETEROCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
LABELLED COMPOUNDS
MAMMALS
NEOPLASMS
NICOTINAMIDE
NUCLEIC ACID REPLICATION
NUCLEOSIDES
NUCLEOTIDES
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PANCREAS
PYRIDINES
PYRIMIDINES
RATS
RIBOSIDES
RODENTS
THYMIDINE
TRITIUM COMPOUNDS
VERTEBRATES
VITAMIN B GROUP
VITAMINS