Peroxisomes in liver tumors of rats induced by 3'-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene

Abstract

Peroxisomes were present in trabecular carcinoma and adenocarcinoma induced by 3-methyl-4-(dimethylamino)azobenzene in the liver of rats. Peroxisomes in well-differentiated trabecular carcinoma (type I) resembled more or less those in hepatocytes in their electron microscopic features, but were considerably small in number. Poorly differentiated trabecular carcinoma (type II) and adenocarcinoma contained peroxisomes in far smaller number than in the well-differentiated trabecular carcinoma, or frequently showed no peroxisomes. Peroxisomes in poorly differentiated trabecular carcinoma and adenocarcinoma were small in size, contained scanty matrix in general, and almost lacked crystalloid nucleoids; however, they were easily identified by electron microscopic cytochemistry of catalase. Catalase activity of these tumors was significantly lower than in the liver tissues. These tumors did not respond to ethyl chlorophenxyisobutyrate either by proliferation of peroxisomes or by elevation of catalase activity. It is thus suggested that the cellular mechanisms for regulating the formation of peroxisomes and synthesis of the enzyme involved are impaired in the tumor cells.