Abstract
Leydig cell tumors of the rat testis induced by a single subcutaneous injection of cadmium chloride were studied by electron microscope and histochemical methods. The tumor cells contained abundant agranular endoplasmic reticulum appearing as a network of interconnecting tubules of uniform diameter. The mitochondria were numerous, varied in size, and contained compact vesicular inner structure. In some tumor cells the mitochondrial cristae were not elaborate. The cytoplasmic lipid appeared as numerous vacuoles and was more prominent in larger tumors. Many microbodies (peroxisomes) were also observed in tumor cells. Some possessed tubular or cylindrical inclusions identical to those in peroxisomes of kidney and spontaneous Leydig cell tumors of the rat testis. Several microbodies also revealed the presence of an amorphous, highly electron dense center. 3/3-Hydroxy steroid dehydrogenase activity was localized in these tumors histochemically. These observations indicate that cadmium-induced Leydig cell tumors in the rat testis are capable of steroidogenesis.—J Natl Cancer Inst 51: 891-903, 1973.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 891-903 |
| Number of pages | 13 |
| Journal | Journal of the National Cancer Institute |
| Volume | 51 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Sep 1973 |
Funding
1 Received March 5, 1973; accepted May 14, 1973. 2 Supported in part by Public Health Service grants GMI5956 from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and CA5680 from the National Cancer Institute. 3 Department of Pathology and Oncology and Clinical Pharmacology-Toxicology Center, Departments of Medicine and Pharmacology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Mo. 66103. 4 We thank Mr. J. D. Prasad, Mr. C. Sittler, Ms. Dianne Knox, and Ms. Faye Brady for their technical assistance, and Mrs. Ella M. Olson for typing the manuscript.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Oncology
- Cancer Research
