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Lung Tumor-bearing Strain A Mice with Coincident Leukemia: An Electron Microscopic Study¹

Department of Pathology, University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Oregon 97201

Two instances of coincident occurrence of lung adenomas and leukemia in older strain A mice have been encountered. One mouse had received urethan 21 months prior to sacrificing and the other mouse was an untreated control. In both animals, thymuses, spleens, and livers were greatly swollen. Microscopically, these organs showed extensive infiltration by plasma cells. Electron microscopic examination of the tissues revealed type A-2 mouse leukemia virus particles within plasma cells and histiocytes in thymus and spleen and within plasma cells located in liver sinusoids. Type C mouse leukemia virus particles were found extracellularly in thymus and spleen. Virus particles were not observed in other cell types of thymus, spleen, or liver. Plasma cells were rarely seen in lung. Some lung tumor cells from the urethan-treated mouse contained type A-2 virus particles, and type C particles were observed extracellularly. Virus particles were not found in lung tumor cells from the untreated mouse. An etiological relation between the leukemia-associated virus particles and the lung adenomas is considered unlikely. A lung tumor cell susceptibility toward infection by these viruses would, however, appear to exist.

¹ This investigation was supported by a research grant from the American Cancer Society, Oregon Division, Inc.

Received 11/ 7/69. Accepted 1/23/70.