Histochemical characteristics of spontaneous and chemically induced hepatocellular neoplasms in mice and the development of neoplasms with gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity during phenobarbital exposure.

The histochemical characteristics of spontaneous hepatocellular neoplasms in mice of both sexes were examined and compared with those of hepatocellular neoplasms induced in female mice by administration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogens as initiators with or without subsequent phenobarbitone treatment. Controls treated with phenobarbitone alone was also induced. Spontaneous neoplasms in the livers of mice rendered siderotic by subcutaneous iron injection were deficient in cellular accumulation of stainable iron. Glucose-6-phosphatase activity was deficient in the majority of spontaneous and induced neoplasms. ATPase activity was increase in about half of spontaneous and carcinogen-induced neoplasms but all induced neoplasms in mice treated with phenobarbitone showed deficient activity. Gamma-glutamyltransferase activity was present in very few of the spontaneous neoplasms or in the neoplasms induced in the absence of phenobarbitone administration. However, all induced neoplasms in the mice receiving phenobarbitone showed some degree of gamma-glutamyltransferase activity together with deficient glucose-6-phosphatase and ATPase activities. It is concluded that the histochemical characteristics of spontaneous or induced mouse hepatocellular neoplasms are variable and may be influenced by the inducing factors.