Laminin and type IV collagen in experimental rat oral carcinomas.

The pattern of staining and the distribution of laminin and type IV collagen in normal rat tongue mucosa and induced tongue carcinomas were investigated by immunohistochemical techniques. Both normal and neoplastic epithelial basement membrane revealed positive staining for laminin and type IV collagen. However, compared with normal tissue, carcinomas exhibited areas of increased density and thickness for laminin. Focal tumour basement membrane discontinuities were observed in some specimens stained for type IV collagen.