Ulex Europaeus-I: a marker for differentiation of (pre)cancerous lesions induced in the rat pancreas by azaserine.

The binding patterns of the lectin Ulex Europaeus-I (UEA-I) to pancreatic cells of Wistar rats from TNO, in azaserine-induced acinar cell lesions, was examined by peroxidase-conjugated UEA-I. In the normal rat, acinar cells showed this lectin binding to luminal and intracytoplasmic cell membranes. Four different types of acinar cell nodules could be distinguished in this rat treated with azaserine. Acinar cell lesions, types 1-3, showed stronger lectin binding than was seen in normal tissue, whereas in type 4 lesions acinar cells showed similar or weaker binding than did the normal cells. In type 1 lesions, UEA-I binding was restricted to the luminal and intracytoplasmic cell membranes. Strong basolateral cell membrane binding not seen in the normal and type 1 or type 4 lesions was characteristic for type 2 lesions. Type 3 lesions were considered as the intermediate between type 1 and type 2. Comparison of histocytologic and UEA-I binding patterns demonstrated that type 1 lesions correspond to 'acidophilic nodules', type 2 to 'well- to moderately differentiated carcinoma', type 3 to 'in situ carcinoma' and type 4 to 'basophilic nodules'. Based on this classification, all 'nodules within nodules' observed in the pancreases of azaserine-treated rats were of malignant types. The present study indicates that UEA-I binding is a useful marker to differentiate between the benign and malignant lesions induced in rat pancreas by azaserine.