Blood flow and reactivity to noradrenaline in induced and autotransplanted DMBA rat mammary neoplasia.

Blood flow during the 'resting condition' and during noradrenaline infusion was compared by means of a microsphere tracer technique in induced DMBA-tumours along the mammary ridge and in autotransplanted tumours, as well as in abdominal skin, skeletal muscle, liver and kidneys. During 'resting conditions' the blood flow of tumours transplanted into skeletal muscle of the hindlimb, liver and kidney was similar to that of the non-transplanted tumours present along the mammary ridges. A pronounced decrease of blood flow upon moderate noradrenaline infusion was characteristic of autotransplanted as well as non-transplanted tumours, which contrasted to the insignificant reaction of skeletal muscle. The striking similarities in blood flow and reactivity of non-transplanted DMBA tumours and autotransplanted ones, and the dissimilarities of the transplanted tumours and the hosting tissues, favour the idea that these tumours regulate their blood supply irrespective of host tissue.