Abstract
Cryostat sections of 16 preneoplastic and 14 neoplastic hepatic lesions induced in rats by 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (3'-Me-DAB) were examined by indirect immunofluorescence with human serum containing smooth-muscle antibody (SMA). Preneoplastic lesions showed strong cytoplasmic staining of proliferating oval cells and of the cell outlines of hepatocytes, in areas of nodular hyperplasia. In carcinomas, poorly differentiated hepatocytes showed staining of cell outlines, while well differentiated tumour cells forming glandular structures showed only staining of the luminar surfaces. The stromal cells also showed cytoplasmic staining. Morphologically normal areas of 3'-Me-DAB-treated livers showed weak staining of cell outlines, similar to normal liver. Specificity of the staining reactions was established by failure of staining in parallel control sections treated with normal human serum, or SMA serum neutralized by absorptions with homogenates of smooth muscle or extracts of actin. The results suggest that there is an increased expression of actin-like contractile protein in preneoplastic and poorly differentiated neoplastic liver cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Toh, B., Cauchi, M., Cook, P. et al. Increased expression of actin-like contractile protein in preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions in rat liver. Br J Cancer 35, 761–767 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1977.117
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1977.117
This article is cited by
-
Effect of overexpression of β- and γ-actin isoforms on actin cytoskeleton organization and migration of human colon cancer cells
Histochemistry and Cell Biology (2014)
-
Comparative immunohistochemical localization of fibronectin and actin in human breast tumor cells in vivo and in vitro
Virchows Archiv B Cell Pathology Including Molecular Pathology (1982)