Morphology, growth characteristics and oestrogen-binding capacity of DMBA-induced mammary tumours from ovariectomized rats.

The morphology of 20 mammary adenocarcinomas induced by 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) in Sprague-Dawley rats was compared with their growth characteristics and oestrogen-binding capacity following ovariectomy. The capacity to bind (3H)oestradiol-17B did not appear to be related to the growth characteristics, time of appearance after DMBA administration, or time between ovariectomy and assay for specific oestrogen-binding proteins. Furthermore, different tumours appeared to have oestrogen-binding capacities unrelated to the percentage of neoplastic cells within the tumour, amount of inflammation, mast cell infiltration, or the presence of fluid-filled cysts. The only morphological features which appeared to be correlated with oestrogen-binding capacity were the number of mitoses and the lipid content of the tumour; that is, the oestrogen-binding capacity tended to be lower in tumours with moderate or large numbers of mitoses and in tumours with much lipid in the epithelial cells. Six of the 19 adenocarcinomas found prior to sacrifice either continued growing or remained static following ovariectomy, while the others underwent regression. In 5 of the regressing tumours a new growth phase was observed, usually beginning 2 months after ovariectomy. Tumours other thus osteosarcoma as well as fibroadenomas and Zymbal-gland tumours.