Pancreatic neoplasms induced in Syrian golden hamsters. I. Scanning electron microscopic observations.

Pancreases from Syrian golden hamsters treated with N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxy-proply)amine for 10 to 25 weeks were examined under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Findings indicate that the neoplasms originated from the ductal epithelium and developed progressively. Adenomas were lined by epithelium of differing cells types, ranging from a flat singly ciliated form to cuboidal-columnar types, or to mixed cell populations. The epithelial lining of the ductal carcinomas exhibited tubular and papillary cystic spaces, and cell surfaces were similar to the cuboidal and columnar epithelium of adenomas and of ductal epithelial hyperplasia. However, microvilli were dense and of varied lengths. The SEM observations correlated with patterns seen in routine histologic preparations.