Precursor Lesions and Pathogenesis of Spontaneous Mammary Tumors in Mice

Abstract

A histologic study was done on the spontaneously occuring precursor and neoplastic lesions of mammary gland in inbred and hybrid female mice. Hyperplastic alveolar nodules (HAN) are small groups of non-encapsulated mammary acini lined by a single layer of low cubodial epithelial cells. The stroma of HAN often contain macrophages laden with ceroid pigment, which imparts to them a yellow color. Microfoci of carcinoma may be found within HAN, and adenoacanthomas may arise within acini in which there is chronic inflammation. Plaques are pregnancy-dependent lesions which occur in three albino mouse strains: DD, GRS, and RIII. These plaques are disc-shaped, are circumscribed or unencapsulated, have a central myxomatous core, and have acini which exhibit radial symmetry. Plaques can give rise to adenocarcinomas type P, type B (papillary and cystic) and also to the unusual and distinctive pale cell carcinoma. The spontaneous tumors described in this paper are mammary gland adenocarcinomas with sebaceous cell nests, tumors which are papillomas and contain basal epithelial elements and acini derived from mammary, sebaceous glands, or hair follicles.