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Junctional Specialization in Estrogen-induced Renal Adenocarcinomas of the Golden Hamster¹

Laboratory of Human Reproduction and Reproductive Biology [R. J. L., J. J. L., C. A. V.], Department of Biological Chemistry [J. J. L., C. A. V.], Harvard Medical School, and Department of Pathology [S. R.], Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02215

Estrogen-dependent renal adenocarcinoma and normal proximal tubules of the hamster kidney exhibit junctional differences. Although both cell types possess gap junctions, the neoplastic cells have in addition a cytoplasmic configuration of gap-junctional membrane (annular nexuses) not found in the kidneys of untreated or estrogenized hamsters or in the nontumorous kidney adjacent to the adenocarcinoma. The presence of these unique structures in the renal tumor and its abdominal metastases was demonstrated by electron microscopy with the use of lanthanum impregnation. A possible correlation between these structures and the estrogen sensitivity of the kidney neoplasm is made.

¹ Supported by Grants 5-T01 HD 00006-12 and RR 05479 from the NIH.

² Present address: Department of Medicine, Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn. 55417, and Department of Pharmacology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minn. 55455. To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at Department of Medicine, SDTU, Veterans Administration Hospital, 54th Street and 48th Avenue South, Minneapolis, Minn. 55417.

Received 8/ 9/74. Accepted 9/13/74.