Transcapillary passage of albumin in mammary tumours and in normal lactating mammary glands of the rat.

A triple-isotope technique was used to obtain albumin clearances and blood flow in DMBA induced mammary tumours, normal lactating mammary glands and various other tissues of the rat. Albumin clearance was high both in tumours (0.0337 ml/min/100 g) and in lactating mammary glands (0.0414 ml/min/100 g). Albumin extraction (defined as the ratio of clearance over plasma flow) was exceptionally high in tumours (23 X 10(-4)) and lactating glands (18 X 10(-4)) as compared to all other tissues (1-7 X 10(-4)). This probably reflects an increased capillary permeability to macromolecules and/or a change in the relation between blood flow and available capillary surface area, both in the physiological, hormonally induced gland and in the abnormal neoplasia derived from the same tissue. Increased extravasation of albumin, together with other changes (e.g. impaired lymph formation) may be important factors behind the production of increased tumour interstitial pressure, which tend to reduce nutritional blood flow in tumours.