Changes in Hepatocyte DNA Content at Various Stages of Carcinogenesis Induced by 3′-Methyl-4,4′-Dimethylaminoazobenzene / 昆明医科大学学报

ABSTRACT

The nuclear DNA content of rat hepatocytes at different stages of hepatocarcinogenesis was measured on cytologic smears using microspe-ctrophotometer at wavelength of 560 nm. A significant reduction in the ratio of tetraploid to diploid cells was induced by oral admimistration of 0.06% 3'-methyl-4,4'-dimethylaminoazobenzene(3'-Me-DAB)for 2 months.Those rats treated with 0.06% 3'-Me-DAB for 7 months had a permanently de- pressed ratio of tetraploiddiploid.The tumor cells at the early stage of carcinogenesis and the percancerous hepatocytes were diploid in pattern.We suggest that the selective outgrowth of diploid cell population would significantly increase the likelihood of developing further to- wards cancer.It might be an important marker of cell transformation.The DNA content and pathomorphology of hepatoma might objectively reflect its malignity.