Modification of Growth and Function of a Transplanted Ovarian Granulosa-Cell Tumor

A granulosa-cell tumor was transplanted into 375 hybrid mice. Production of estrogen by the tumor was revealed in female mice by maintenance of uterine weight in ovariectomized hosts and by the development of polycystic uteri in intact mice. Hormone production was indicated in male mice by the concurrent atrophy of testicular and seminal vesicles, development of the mammary glands, and formation of an interpublic ligament. The uterine stromal nuclei resembled those in mice that received progesterone, which indicated that a progesterone-like hormone was also produced by the tumor. Growth rate of the tumor in male hosts was increased by progression of tumor generation and decreased by administration of thyroid and of thiouracil after orchiectomy, hypophysectomy, and testosterone-pellet implantation and injection of estradiol benzoate. Tumor growth in female mice was increased by progression of tumor generation, castration, and testosterone treatment and decreased by injection of estradiol benzoate. The latent period of tumor development was shorter in male mice than in female mice. Hormone production of the tumor decreased with progression of tumor generation, and increased following transplantation into a 2-day-old mouse. In male hosts hormone production of the tumor increased during the administration of thyroid, thiouracil, and a combination of FSH, LH, and LTH. Changes in the endocrine environment of the host had no detectable effect on the hormone production of tumors transplanted into female mice. Tumors that developed in thyroid-treated male mice showed increased sudanophilia. Otherwise treatment of the hosts did not alter significantly the histological characteristics of the tumors that were studied. An increase in the level of LH or a change in the responsiveness to LH was postulated as the mechanism of action of thyroid and thiouracil. The increased latent period of tumor development in female mice may be due to the higher levels of LH in females as compared to male mice. Growth and function of the transplanted granulosa-cell tumor could be modified independently of each other.