Morphologic and cytochemical properties of mouse liver neoplasms induced by diethylnitrosamine and promoted by 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane, or heptachlor.

The relationships between the gross appearance, histologic types, and cytochemical characteristics of hepatocellular neoplasms were studied in B6C3F1 mice given the liver carcinogen diethylnitrosamine either alone or followed by the organochlorine pesticides, 4,4'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, chlordane, or heptachlor as promoting agents. Hepatocellular neoplasms were categorized according to their cytoplasmic staining properties with hematoxylin and eosin. Acidophilic neoplasms more often displayed increased activity of alkaline phosphatase than did basophilic neoplasms. The activities of glucose-6-phosphatase and adenosine triphosphatase were decreased in both acidophilic and basophilic neoplasms. There was no difference in the activities of these enzymes or gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase between adenomas and carcinomas, although most neoplasms did not display gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase. Chlordane or heptachlor exposure increased the alkaline phosphatase activity in neoplastic cells, but not that of other enzymes. The majority of neoplasms displayed a deficiency of iron accumulation. The macroscopic appearance of neoplasms was closely related to their cytoplasmic staining properties and cytochemical characteristics.