Response of chemically induced hepatocytelike cells in hamster pancreas to methyl clofenapate, a peroxisome proliferator.

Administration of N-nitrosobis (2-oxopropyl)amine during peak DNA synthesis of regenerating pancreas in hamsters has been shown to induce hepatocytelike cells in pancreas. We now present evidence to demonstrate that such cells respond to methyl clofenapate, a peroxisome proliferator. The response includes a marked proliferation of peroxisomes and enhanced activity of peroxisomal enzymes enoyl-CoA hydratase (8.5- to 13-fold), [1-14C]-palmitoyl-CoA oxidation (2.8- to 3.9-fold), catalase (1.6 to 3.4-fold), and carnitine acetyltransferase (greater than 2,000-fold). Cytochemical localization of catalase by the alkaline 3,3'-diaminobenzidine procedure and immunofluorescence localization of heat-labile enoyl-CoA hydratase showed that these peroxisome-associated enzymes are localized strictly in pancreatic hepatocytelike cells, while adjacent acinar, duct, and islet cells appeared consistently negative. Morphometric analyses of hepatocytelike cells showed a significant increase in the numerical density and an eightfold increase in the volume density of peroxisomes in methyl clofenapate treated animals. These results demonstrate that the hepatocytelike cells are responsible for the observed peroxisomal enzyme activity in pancreas of hamsters and suggest that the derepressed peroxisome specific genes in these cells respond to a peroxisome proliferator as do parenchymal cells in hamster liver.

Induction and origin of hepatocytes in rat pancreas.

2-[4(2,2- Dichlorocyclopropyl )phenoxy]2-methyl propionic acid (ciprofibrate), a peroxisome proliferator , induced hepatocytes in the pancreas of adult male F-344 rats when added to their diet at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight for 60-72 wk. These cells are morphologically indistinguishable from hepatic hepatocytes and were usually localized adjacent to islets of Langerhans with extensions into surrounding acinar tissue. A significant increase in the volume density of peroxisomes, together with immunochemically detectable amounts of two peroxisome-associated enzymes, was observed in pancreas with hepatocytes of rats maintained on ciprofibrate. Uricase-containing crystalloid nucleoids, specific for rat hepatocyte peroxisomes, were present in pancreatic hepatocytes. These structures facilitated the identification of cells with hybrid cytoplasmic features characteristic of pancreatic acinar and endocrine cells and hepatocytes. Such cells are presumed to represent a transitional state in which pancreas specific genes are being repressed while liver specific ones are simultaneously expressed. The presence of exocrine and/or endocrine secretory granules in transitional cells indicates that acinar/intermediate cells represent the precursor cell from which pancreatic hepatocytes are derived.

Mitogenic activity of sterculic acid, a cyclopropenoid fatty acid.

Hepatocytes in rainbow trout and rat are stimulated to augmented DNA synthesis and cell division by low concentrations of cyclopropenoid fatty acids in the diet. Sterculic acid isolated as the methyl ester from Sterculia foetida oil has been identified as one of the mitogenic principles.

Role of anaerobic metabolism in the preservation of functional capacity and structure of anoxic myocardium.

Employing an isolated perfused rat heart preparation, we investigated the contribution of anaerobic metabolic energy to the performance, recoverability, and ultrastructure of the heart perfused at 32 degrees C in 5% albumin in Krebs-Ringer Bicarbonate solution. During exposure to anoxia for 30 min, inclusion in the perfusate of the anaerobic substrate, glucose, resulted in marked improvement in electrical and mechanical performance of the heart and in enhanced recovery during the subsequent period of reoxygenation. Lactate production was fivefold greater in the glucose-supported anoxic heart than in the anoxic heart without glucose. Electron microscope sections of the hearts exposed to anoxia in the absence of glucose revealed alterations in mitochondrial morphology and dilatation of the longitudinal tubules. These morphologic changes during anoxia were averted by inclusion of glucose in the perfusion fluid. The data are consistent with the hypothesis that anaerobic energy generation plays a significant role in preserving myocardial function and structure and in promoting recoverability of the anoxic mammalian heart.

N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine-induced hemangiosarcomas in the livers of randombred guinea pigs.

The carcinogenic effect of N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine (DMNM) was studied in randombred guinea pigs after repeated administration of this compound by gavage. DMNM was administered at two dose levels (14 and 28 mg/kg body wt) weekly for 23 weeks. All animals were observed until their death or termination of the experiment at 54 and 37 weeks for the 14- and 28-mg dose levels, respectively. At 14 mg, 67% of the animals developed hemangiosarcomas of the liver and 60% developed cholangiomas between 36 and 54 weeks. In addition, a poorly differentiated malignant mesenchymal tumor was observed in 1 animal. At 28 mg, liver hemangiosarcomas were observed in 82% of the animals between 26 and 37 weeks. In addition, in 18% of the animals, bronchioalveolar adenoma (1 animal), hepatocellular carcinoma (1 animal), and malignant lymphoma (1 animal) were also induced. Metastases of hemangiosarcomas to lungs, mesenteries, and lymph nodes were observed in 3 animals of each group.

Preliminary observations on the mitogenic effect of cyclopropenoid fatty acids on rat pancreas.

Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a diet containing 500 ppm of cyclopropenoid fatty acids (CPFA). After 2 weeks, mitotic activity and [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA were significantly increased in pancreatic acinar cells. Continued feeding of the diet for 4 and 8 weeks led to decreasing mitotic activity which was still significantly increased over that of control animals. Focal necrosis of acinar cells was histologically apparent after 8 weeks of CPFA ingestion. Ultrastructural evidence of focal cytoplasmic injury was detected in acinar epithelial cells as early as 2 weeks after feeding of the CPFA diet was begun. A difference in dose response to CPFA appears to exist between Sprague-Dawley and Fischer F344 rats in that the latter, a dose of CPFA (5 mg/100 g body weight), did not evoke a mitogenic response.

Transplantable ductal adenocarcinoma of the Syrian hamster pancreas.

A well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma of the Syrian golden hamster induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine was transplantable to both nude mice and inbred Syrian hamsters. The tumor grew rapidly in the nude mouse (12-fold increase in size at 45 days) in contrast to its growth in hamster (3-fold increase in size at 45 days). A curious finding associated with the slow-growing tumor in the hamster was an intense infiltration of the neoplasm by polymorphonuclear leukocytes unattended by either necrosis or infection. The neoplasm produced mucin and rapidly and specifically bound 125I-labeled secretin, although the degree of nonspecific binding (40.5%) was higher than that of control hamster pancreas (23%). Unstimulated adenyl cyclase activity (pmol cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate per mg protein) of the neoplasm was significantly higher [3.76 +/- 0.55 (S.E.)] than that of unstimulated normal hamster pancreas (1.03 +/- 0.44). Secretin did not significantly change the level of cyclic adenosine 3':5'-monophosphate (3.3 +/- 0.56) from the unstimulated level in the neoplasm, in contrast to its effect on normal pancreas where the level was increased 3-fold (3.1 +/- 0.75).

DNA alkylation in the hamster induced by two pancreatic carcinogens.

N-Nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) and N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) alkylate DNA and other macromolecules in the liver, kidney, pancreas, and lungs when injected s.c. in the Syrian hamster. Two of the most abundant DNA adducts found were the N7-methylguanine and O6-methylguanine, which in the liver accounted for about 60% of total DNA alkylation. A third adduct which was invariably found in liver and kidneys, but could not always be detected in pancreas and lungs, was identified as N7-(2-hydroxypropyl)guanine. Quantitation of N7-methylguanine by its UV spectrum and radioactivity, following administration of single-labeled [1-14C]BOP or HPOP, showed that the specific activity of this adduct was one half that of the nitrosamine. This excludes participation of the gamma carbons of these nitrosamines in methylation reactions and indicates that intermediates in which scrambling of the alpha and gamma carbons is possible are not involved in yielding the ultimate methylating agent. Finally, a comparison of the alkylation levels caused by equivalent doses of BOP and HPOP showed that BOP targeted DNA and other cytoplasmic components of kidney, lungs, and pancreas more extensively than HPOP. Ratios of N7-methylguanine in BOP versus HPOP treated hamsters, at doses less than 40 mg/kg body weight, were 3.1 in the kidney, 7.0 in the pancreas, 3.9 in the lung, and only 3.5 in the liver. These ratios are in accordance with the greater carcinogenic potency of BOP compared to HPOP and also the different organotropic properties of the two carcinogens.

Relationship between benzo(a)pyrene-induced DNA base modification and frequency of reverse mutations in mutant strains of Salmonella typhimurium.

Salmonella typhimurium cells (TA98 and TA100) were incubated with [3H]benzo(a)pyrene ([3H]BP) and induced rat liver microsomes. The BP-induced cytotoxicity and His+ reverse-mutation frequencies were determined, and bacterial DNA hydrolysates were chromatographed on Sephadex LH-20. Analysis indicated three principal DNA adducts formed from two diastereoisomeric BP diol-epoxides and a 9-hydroxy-benzo(a)pyrene metabolite. An 8.6-fold increase in TA100 cell concentration in the microsome incubation was paralleled by a 7.2-fold decrease in total adducts per cell and a 7.4-fold decrease in mutation frequency. Separate TA98 incubations were titrated with increasing concentrations of [3H](+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 alpha, 10 alpha-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene ([3H]anti BP diol-epoxide), [3H](+/-)-7 beta, 8 alpha-dihydroxy-9 beta, 10 beta-epoxy-7,8,9,10-tetrahydrobenzo(a)pyrene [3H]syn BP diol-epoxide), or [3H]9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene. Linear, nonsaturated increases in DNA adduct levels were seen up to the highest observed concentrations of 4.00 microM BP diol-epoxide or 6.00 microM 9-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene in both TA98 and TA100 cells. The increasing adduct levels were accompanied by linearly increasing mutation frequencies. At equivalent concentrations of the two DP diol-epoxides, an average of 8.2-fold more base substitution mutations (TA100) were seen than frameshift mutations (TA98). The results also indicate significant differences in absolute mutagenic efficiency (mutation frequency/unit modified DNA) between these three covalent DNA ligands (TA98, syn BP diolepoxide greater than 9-hydroxy-4,5-epoxy-benzo(a)pyrene greater than anti BP diol-epoxide; TA100, 9-hydroxy-4,5-epoxy-benzo(a)pyrene greater than syn BP diol-epoxide greater than anti BP diol-epoxide).

Augmentation of carcinogenesis by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine administered during S phase of the cell cycle in regenerating hamster pancreas.

Pancreatic acinar cells in various rodent species are capable of undergoing modulation to duct-like structures upon extended exposure to pancreatic carcinogens. Although the majority of malignant pancreatic neoplasms induced in rat and guinea pig are of acinar cell origin, some adenocarcinomas closely resembling those of ductal derivation have been reported. In hamster, on the other hand, carcinoma-induced duct-like modulation of acinar cells is followed exclusively by the development of ductal adenocarcinoma. The present experiments, in which the carcinogen N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) was administered initially to hamsters during ethionine-induced pancreatic regeneration at a time when the maximum number of acinar cells was in S phase of the cell cycle, were undertaken to ascertain the extent and nature of acinar cell response to such treatment and the pattern of tumorigenesis. BOP was also administered weekly following the cessation of regeneration for periods ranging from 1.5 to 9 weeks to achieve total doses of 120, 90, and 40 mg of BOP per kg. Controls consisted of hamsters with normal nonregenerating pancreas that were treated with BOP on identical schedules to those of the experimental groups. The largest number of carcinomas (12 in 16 animals or 75%) developed in the highest-dose test group as compared to 10 in 26 animals or 38% in its control group. The difference was statistically significant (p less than 0.05). Other groups of hamsters with regenerating and nonregenerating pancreas receiving lower doses of carcinogen had tumor incidences which were not statistically different from one another. These experiments yielded ductal adenocarcinomas exclusively, although it is of interest that the two most common benign lesions encountered in these animals were cystadenomata often lined by zymogen-containing cells and duct-like modulation of acinar cells. Finally, in some of the animals with carcinomas, nests of duct-like structures, some of which appeared to arise from acini, were lined by severely atypical epithelium with numerous mitoses. The increased incidence and exclusive development of ductal adenocarcinoma in animals to whom carcinogen was administered during pancreatic regeneration coupled with the changes noted above are interpreted as presumptive evidence that acini may be involved in the pathogenesis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in the hamster.

Activation of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine and N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)-(2-oxopropyl)amine to mutagens for V79 cells by isolated hamster and rat pancreatic acinar cells.

A pancreatic acinar cell-mediated mutagenicity assay was developed as an in vitro model system to study the metabolism of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) and N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amino (HPOP) into forms mutagenic for Chinese hamster V79 cells. Mutations at the hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus and the Na/K ATPase locus were scored by resistance to 6-thioguanine and ouabain, respectively. The ability of both Syrian golden hamster and Fischer rat pancreatic acinar cells to convert BOP and HPOP to mutagens for V79 cells was investigated in order to examine the basis for species specificity. Acinar cells of both species were capable of activating BOP and HPOP to mutagens for V79 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In the 6-thioguanine resistance assay, rat acinar cells induced higher mutation frequencies than hamster acinar cells with both BOP and HPOP. In the ouabain resistance assay, both cell types induced equivalent levels of mutation with the respective nitrosamines. BOP was a considerably more potent mutagen than HPOP after activation by either cell type. This is consistent with the known in vivo specificity of BOP versus HPOP in the hamster pancreas and suggests that BOP may be activated to mutagenic metabolites by a pathway(s) independent from its enzymatic reduction to HPOP. The comparable abilities of rat and hamster acinar cells to convert BOP or HPOP to mutagenic forms imply that pancreatic metabolic activation alone cannot explain the difference in organotropism of BOP and HPOP in the two species.

Major urinary metabolites in hamsters and rats treated with N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine.

Rats and hamsters were administered a single dose of N-[1-14C]nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP), and their urinary metabolites were examined at various time intervals. In both species, urinary excretion of radiolabeled metabolites reached a plateau at 6 h following injection. At this time, 35 and 28% of the total dose was found in the urine of rats and hamsters, respectively. Separation by liquid chromatography and subsequent characterization by nuclear magnetic resonance, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy, and infrared showed that the major metabolites in rat urine were HPOP, N-nitrosobis(2-hydroxypropyl)amine (BHP), and their glucuronic acid conjugates. The conjugates accounted for 30 and 9%, while free HPOP and BHP accounted for 42 and 16% of the total metabolites, respectively. Hamster urine, on the other hand, contained free HPOP, BHP, their glucuronic acid conjugates, and a sulfate ester of HPOP not found in rat urine. Six h following administration of HPOP, hamster urine contained BHP, BHP glucuronide, HPOP, HPOP glucuronide, and HPOP sulfate ester at levels of 35, 9, 16, 9, and 14%, respectively. These data suggest that hamsters reduce HPOP to BHP more efficiently than rats, while rats are more effective in forming their glucuronic acid conjugates. Hamsters differ significantly from rats in their capacity to form and excrete the sulfate ester of HPOP.

Species specificity in the metabolism of N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine and N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine to mutagens by isolated rat and hamster hepatocytes.

The metabolic activation of the carcinogens N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) and N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) by Fischer rat and Syrian hamster hepatocytes was investigated in order to determine the existence of species differences in the induction of cell mutation. The conversion of BOP and HPOP into forms mutagenic to V79 cells was studied by using the hepatocyte-mediated mutagenicity assay. Mutations at the hypoxanthine:guanine phosphoribosyltransferase locus and the Na-K-ATPase locus were scored by the induction of 6-thioguanine resistance (TGr) or ouabain resistance (Ouar), respectively. Hepatocytes of both species were capable of converting BOP and HPOP to mutagens for V79 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Metabolism of BOP by rat hepatocytes resulted in higher mutation frequencies than that by hamster hepatocytes. At a BOP concentration of 240 microM, rat hepatocyte metabolism yielded 90.7 TGr mutants and 19.5 Ouar mutants per 10(5) V79 cells. At the same concentration, hamster hepatocyte metabolism of BOP yielded 54.1 TGr mutants and 13.0 Ouar mutants per 10(5) V79 cells. These results did not correlate with the known carcinogenic potency of BOP in the hamster as compared to the rat. Hamster hepatocytes carried out the catabolism of BOP to CO2 at faster rates than rat hepatocytes; therefore, the species difference in mutagenic activation was not due to a defect in BOP uptake or metabolism by hamster hepatocytes. In contrast, metabolism of HPOP by hamster hepatocytes resulted in significantly higher mutation frequencies than that by rat hepatocytes. At an HPOP concentration of 240 microM, hamster hepatocyte metabolism yielded 83.5 TGr mutants per 10(5) V79 cells; rat hepatocyte metabolism yielded only 19.8 TGr mutants per 10(5) V79 cells. This species difference in mutagenic activation correlated well with the known potency of HPOP as a carcinogen for the hamster as compared to the rat. Since hamster pancreatic cells and subcellular fractions are known to have very limited capacity to perform the metabolic activation of HPOP, the results of this study imply that liver metabolism plays an important role in the conversion of HPOP to an agent(s) which subsequently affects the hamster pancreas. The mutagenic potency of BOP versus HPOP was compared after metabolism by hepatocytes from both species. Following their metabolism by hamster hepatocytes, the two compounds were nearly equivalent in mutagenic potency. After metabolism by rat hepatocytes, BOP was significantly more potent mutagen than HPOP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

K-ras mutation is an early event in pancreatic duct carcinogenesis in the Syrian golden hamster.

K-ras oncogene mutation has been shown to be a frequent event in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas induced by the carcinogen N-nitroso-bis(2-oxopropyl)amine in the hamster. The present study examines the mutational status of the K-ras oncogene in lesions that precede the appearance of invasive ductal adenocarcinomas. Syrian golden hamsters (80-100 g) received 12 weekly doses of 15 mg/kg N-nitroso-bis(2-oxopropyl)amine and were serially sacrificed at 8, 12, 14, 16, or 24 weeks following the initiation of treatment. Ten microns-thick sections of formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded pancreas were examined for hyperplasia, papillary hyperplasia, carcinoma in situ, and invasive and metastatic ductal carcinoma. Marked lesions of interest were scraped from the slide, subjected to polymerase chain reaction-mediated amplification of the first exon of the K-ras gene, and probed by oligonucleotide-specific hybridization for mutations at codon either 12 or 13. Of 186 samples assayed, K-ras codon 12 mutations were detected in 26% of hyperplasias, 46% of papillary hyperplasias, 76% of carcinoma in situ, 80% of adenocarcinomas, and 43% of lymph node metastases. Codon 12 mutations were exclusively G to A changes at the second position. Codon 13 mutations were only detected in 9 of 168 samples. These results suggest that K-ras activation is an early event in N-nitroso-bis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster.

Metabolism of pancreatic carcinogens N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine by microsomes and cytosol of hamster pancreas and liver.

Liver preparations from Syrian golden hamsters catalyze the metabolism of the pancreatic carcinogen N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine largely to N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP). This reaction is catalyzed by a mixed-function oxidase in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate and oxygen at a rate of 3.8 nmol/min/mg of protein, and it is inhibited by known cytochrome P-450-specific inhibitors. A second potent pancreatic carcinogen N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) is converted to HPOP by hamster liver in which two enzyme systems appear to be involved. The first is a reductase associated with microsomes which reduces BOP to HPOP in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide at a rate of 9.1 nmol/min/mg of protein. The second enzyme is a cytosolic one which catalyzes the same reaction at a slower rate (2.3 nmol/min/mg of protein) and is more effective with reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate as cofactor. Based on the amount of protein in hepatic cytosol and endoplasmic reticulum, the two enzymes may be involved to a similar extent in the reduction of BOP to HPOP in the liver. Pancreas, on the other hand, lacks the microsomal reductase for BOP but contains a cytosolic enzyme which catalyzes its reduction in the presence of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate at a rate of 0.35 nmol/min/mg of protein. Since both pancreatic carcinogens N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and BOP are metabolized to HPOP in the liver at rates much higher than those observed in the target organ pancreas, it is suggested that the liver may play an important role in pancreatic carcinogenesis in the hamster by these compounds.

Genomic p53 mutation in a chemically induced hamster pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

This study investigates possible alterations in exons 5 through 8 of the p53 gene and altered p53 protein expression in the Syrian golden hamster model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. In the Syrian hamster p53 sequence, 1469 base pairs are presented for the genomic regions surrounding exons 5 through 8, along with the primer sequences specific for the enzymatic amplification of the individual exons. Single-stranded conformation polymorphism was analyzed on the products obtained by enzymatic amplification of hamster genomic DNA extracted from 2 transplantable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, 6 groups of N-methylnitrosourea (MNU)-treated pancreatic duct cells, and 17 MNU-induced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. The two transplantable adenocarcinomas were a well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma established from a N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine-induced tumor and a poorly differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma established from a spontaneous tumor. An altered mobility indicated a conformational change in the first part of exon 5 in the solid form of the well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma. Direct sequencing of the amplified product revealed an A-->C transversion in codon 135, which corresponds to codon 132 in the human p53 gene. A conformational change in exon 7 was observed in 1 of 6 MNU-treated cell samples, and none of the 17 resultant tumors. Direct sequencing confirmed a deletion of one C of the three in codon 263, which generates a frameshift mutation. No conformational change was observed in any other products. Positive staining with PAb240 or DO7 antibodies against human p53 or with an antibody generated in our laboratory against the hamster p53 fusion protein was observed only in the solid form of well-differentiated ductal adenocarcinoma and in rare cells scattered in 4 of 28 MNU-induced tumors analyzed. This study provides a system to analyze p53 gene alterations in the hamster and is the initial report of a specific p53 mutation in a hamster pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Simultaneous nuclear antigen and DNA content quantitation using paraffin-embedded colonic tissue and multiparameter flow cytometry.

The simultaneous quantitation of nuclear antigens and DNA content is presented using monoclonal antibodies and flow cytometric analysis, with paraffin-embedded human colonic pathology specimens utilized as source material. The monoclonal antibodies evaluated were shown by immunogold electron microscopy to recognize nuclear proteins preferentially associated with interchromatin (p105) and heterochromatin (p34) regions. Indirect immunofluorescence analysis of p105 revealed two distinct G1-G0 cell subpopulations in cells from normal colonic epithelium and colonic adenocarcinomas. In addition, enhanced levels of both p105 and p34 were observed in aneuploid DNA content stemlines, relative to diploid cells. Cell-sorting experiments performed on cells sorted on the basis of p105 and DNA contents reveal the capability of this method for identifying morphologically heterogeneous cell subpopulations. Other data suggest that p105 is differentially expressed in well-differentiated versus poorly differentiated tumor regions. The potential utility of this approach for the retrospective study of proliferation-associated antigens and protooncogene protein products is discussed.

Multiple genetic alterations in hamster pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas induced in the Syrian golden hamster (SGH) by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine share many similarities with the human disease, including mutations of the K-ras oncogene. In vitro carcinogenesis studies with immortal SGH pancreatic duct cells indicate that neoplastic transformation in this system can occur without mutational inactivation of p53 suppressor gene. In this study we extend the genetic analysis of the in vivo SGH model to increase the number of cases analyzed for the status of K-ras and to determine further the spectrum of alterations involved; we have studied the status of the p53, DCC, and Rb-1 suppressor genes and the status of the mdm2 oncogene, which can involve p53 indirectly. The partial SGH-coding sequence of mdm2 and DCC was determined. K-ras mutation in the second position of codon 12 was present in 17 of 19 (90%) of tumors. Immunohistochemistry and single strand conformation polymorphism analysis showed no evidence of p53 mutation in 21 tumors. RNase protection assays showed overexpression of mdm2 in 5 of 19 (26%) tumors. Semiquantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis showed a complete or partial loss of DCC expression in 10 of 19 (53%) neoplasms and of Rb-1 (42%) expression in 8 of 19 tumors when compared to matched controls. Deregulation of these genes appears to be significant in SGH pancreatic carcinogenesis as indicated by their frequencies. However, the fact that 6 tumors showed either only a K-ras mutation or the absence of alterations of the 5 genes analyzed indicates that additional as yet unstudied or unknown genes are also involved in SGH pancreatic duct carcinogenesis.

Metabolism of N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine by isozymes of rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450.

The cis isomer of N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine (NNDM), a pancreatic carcinogen for the Syrian golden hamster, is metabolized by hamster liver microsomes to yield N-nitroso(2-hydroxypropyl)(2-oxopropyl)amine (HPOP) as the major product. Rabbit liver microsomes catalyze the metabolism of cis-NNDM to HPOP at a rate slower than that observed with hamster microsomes, but significantly faster than that obtained with rat microsomes. Pretreatment of rabbits with phenobarbital results in a 6-fold increase in the cis-NNDM hydroxylase activity of the rabbit microsomes to levels equal to that observed with the hamster; pretreatment of rabbits with other xenobiotics had no effect on the hydroxylation of cis-NNDM. The role of rabbit liver microsomal cytochrome P-450 in the metabolism of the cis isomer of NNDM was studied in the reconstituted system consisting of NADPH:cytochrome P-450 reductase, phospholipid, and cytochrome P-450. Cytochrome P-450LM2, which is induced by pretreatment with phenobarbital, exhibited the highest activity for the metabolism of cis-NNDM. The Vmax for the formation of HPOP was 1.78 nmol/min/nmol cytochrome P-450LM2, and the apparent Km was 360 microM. Cytochrome P-450LM3a also catalyzed the metabolism of NNDM to HPOP at a significant rate (0.25 nmol/min/nmol cytochrome P-450). Of the four other isozymes of cytochrome P-450 (forms 3b, 3c, 4, and 6) tested in the reconstituted system, only forms 3b and 3c exhibited measurable activities (approximately 0.04 nmol of HPOP formed/min/nmol cytochrome P-450). The addition of antibodies to isozyme 2 to microsomes from phenobarbital-treated rabbits resulted in approximately 95% inhibition of the metabolism of NNDM, while the addition of antibodies to LM3a inhibited NNDM metabolism by only 7%. In microsomes from untreated rabbits, inhibition by anti-LM2 and anti-LM3a antibodies was 50 and 64%, respectively. The addition of antibodies to isozyme 3a to microsomes isolated from ethanol-treated rabbits caused approximately 90% inhibition of the metabolism of NNDM. These data conclusively demonstrate that several forms of cytochrome P-450 can catalyze the metabolism of cis-NNDM and that isozymes 2 and 3a play important roles in the rabbit hepatic metabolism of NNDM to HPOP, the proximate carcinogenic metabolite.

Ductal metaplasia of human exocrine pancreas and its association with carcinoma.

Monoclonal antibodies to cell surface markers of human exocrine pancreas were used to establish the cytotypic expression of cells forming "tubular complexes" in pancreases from six adults without carcinoma and in the nontumorous pancreatic parenchyma of 16 pancreases with carcinoma. These cells manifested duct cell determinants. In general, the presence of cells with duct cell surface markers within the acini corresponded to the normal distribution of centroacinar cells in the 30 control human pancreases (from cadaveric donors); however, foci of abnormal acini were seen in these pancreases independent of or intermingled with the "tubular complexes." The acini in these abnormal areas were formed by a core of cells and cell processes that expressed duct cell determinants. They were partially surrounded by acinar cells and showed slight or no lumenal dilation. While the causative agent(s), the cell(s) of origin, and the regression and/or progression of these lesions are yet to be determined, the replacement of acini by the spectrum of lesions composed of cells with duct cell surface marker is suggested to constitute ductal metaplasia.