Changes in uterine morphology which accompany the development of preneoplastic and neoplastic mammary lesions in old mice.
Because of the accumulating evidence that anatomical and physiological changes occur in sites and systems removed from primary tumors, uterine morphology during the development of mammary tumors in C3H/HeJ mice was investigated. C3H/HeJ mice contain the mouse mammary tumor (MTV) virus in their milk and have a high incidence of mammary tumorigenesis. The C3HeB/FeJ mice, used as one set of controls, do not contain the mouse MTV virus in their milk and have a low incidence of mammary tumorigenesis. In young cycling animals without mammary lesions, no differences in uterine morphology were detected between the two strains. However, there were striking differences between the uteri of animals with mammary lesions (C3H/HeJ mice) and the uteri of animals with no mammary lesions. The age-matched control uteri ( 3HeB /FeJ) contained involuted uterine glands and quiescent endometrial stromal and epithelial tissue. The C3H/HeJ mice with mammary tumors contained cystic uterine glands, a stimulated endometrium, and extremely variable endometrial epithelial cells with pleomorphic microvilli. The uterine endometrium from C3H/HeJ mice with preneoplastic lesions also had a stimulated appearance. Some of the uteri of mice with preneoplastic lesions contained cells with cilia or stereocilia. The altered uterine morphology was correlated with preneoplastic and neoplastic mammary lesions and was not related to age or strain differences.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology*; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning / Q000379:methods; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000473:pathology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014599:Uterus / Q000254:growth & development / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure