Study on the relationship between mast cells and tumor growth speed during hepatocarcinogenesis in the rats

Abstract

The nucleolar organizer regions (NORs) of normal rat hepatocytes and hepatocytes in the precancerous hyperplastic nodules as well as the cells of hepatocelluar carcinoma induced by Nitro-somorpholine in rats were observed with aid of AgNOR-staining and electron microscopy. The observation revealed that the number of Ag-gra-nules in the NORs of carcinoma cells was significantly more than that in the hyperplastic and normal hepatocytes. The ultrastructural observation of the nucleoli of interphase nuclei showed just the same result as the AgNOR-staining.

The alcian blue-PAS-ABC combined staining revealed a very marked infiltration of mast cells (MC) within the carcinoma tissue and in its surroundings in 4 animals, while oher 5 animals showed only a slight or no MC infiltration in the surroundings of carcinoma tissue. The observation of the phenotype of MC revealed that only one of the animals with carcinoma showed a relatively marked infiltraton of both mucosa mast cells (MMC) and connective tissue mast cells (CTMC), while all other rats showed mainly an infiltration of CTMC. The Ag-granules in the NORs of carcinoma cells of the carcinomas with more MC infiltration were less than that of carcinomas with only slight or without MC infiltration. The difference was statistically significant. The significance of above mentioned results was discussed and a relationship between MC and prognosis of liver carcinoma was suggested.

References

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