Induction of hepatocellular mitosis with carbon tetrachloride in late-phase Ehrlich ascites tumour-bearing mice.

Hepatocellular mitoses are scanty or absent in livers of animals in the late stages of growth of Ehrlich ascites tumours. The challenge of CCl4-induced liver necrosis in such animals is, however, met by a massive hepatocellular mitotic response. Thus general debility of the animal, imposing a block on liver cell division cannot be an explantation for the cessation of tumour-associated liver cell mitosis in late-stage tumour-bearing animals. Possible explantations for the pattern of hepatocellular mitosis in relation to duration of tumour growth are discussed.