The metabolic activity of the uterus in ovariectomized mice bearing ovarian tumours of the granulosa cell type

Summary

The secretion of oestrogens by ovarian tumours of the granulosa cell type transplanted on mice was investigated by studying the metabolic activity of the uterusin vitro. This was accomplished by determination of the incorporation of tracer from acetate-1-C¹⁴ into proteins, cholesterol, and fatty acids of the isolated uterine segments. Vaginal smears were made every day during the growth of the tumour and at successive periods, corresponding with different vaginal responses, the acetate metabolism of the uterus was measured.

Two lines of transplanted tumours were investigated: T 5441 and T 24260. In the case of T 5441 no oestrogenic activity could be detected by vaginal smears, but thein vitro activity of the uterine metabolism clearly showed, that this tumour produced oestrogenic compounds. Positive vaginal smears were obtained from ovariectomized mice bearing T 24260. In these animals the incorporation of radioacetate into the uterine compounds could be correlated with the results obtained with vaginal smears.

It is concluded that granulosa cell tumours of different lines may vary considerably in their secretions of oestrogens. The metabolic activity of the uterus however significantly reveals the presence of very low amounts of oestrogenic hormone.