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A quantitative study of lamina densa alterations in hamster cheek pouch carcinogenesis
Author(s) -
White F. H.,
Gohari K.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
the journal of pathology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.964
H-Index - 184
eISSN - 1096-9896
pISSN - 0022-3417
DOI - 10.1002/path.1711350405
Subject(s) - lamina densa , basal lamina , cheek pouch , pathology , biology , anatomy , epithelium , connective tissue , hemidesmosome , hamster , basement membrane , ultrastructure , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology
Lesions produced by topical application of 0.5 per cent. DMBA to the hamster cheek pouch epithelium were classified as hyperplasia, dysplasia and carcinoma groups using strict histological criteria. Untreated epithelium served as a control. Tissue samples from five animals in each group were processed for electron microscopy and electron micrographs from the epithelialconnective tissue junction were obtained from 5 blocks per animal. The micrographs were subjected to stereological intersection counting to determine the relative surface (S S LD,BM ) of lamina densa which was in normal relationship to the basal cell plasma membranes. Quantitative results indicated a progressive loss of lamina densa during carcinogenesis and this was accompanied by the extrusion of pseudopodia from the basal cells through the gaps. The pseudopodia were frequently related to peripheral cytoplasmic microfilaments. Quantitative data confirmed the progressive nature of this loss, with values for S S LD,BM being of the order of 98 per cent., 88 per cent., 76 per cernt. and 42 per cent. for normal epithelium and for the hyperplastic, dysplastic and carcinomatous lesions respectively. The loss of lamina densa is discussed in relation to the specificity of the response and to the development of features indicative of motility in transforming cells.