Quantitative study on morphologic features and proliferative activity during DEN-induced hepatocarcinogenesis in rats / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective　To explore the relationship between morphologic evolution and proliferative activity during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats. Methods　Imaging analysis technique was used to detect the morphologic parameters of cells in hepatic lesions in both Solt-Farber model and diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver cancer model. Immunohistochemistry was employed to detect proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). Results　The oval cells were identified as irregular small proliferating cells in size of one-eighth of and with a nucleus/cytoplasm ratio of 6 times of the normal hepatocyte by image analysis. The morphometric parameters of basophil hepatocyte in precancerous foci and nodule were similar to those of the liver cancer cell. PCNA and BrdU positive cells were mainly localized within the proliferative foci and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tissues. There was a better consistency between the development of hepatic lesions and cellular proliferative activity. Conclusion　The morphologic evolution is closely related to proliferative activity during hepatocarcinogenesis in rats.