Modulation of mammary tumor vascularization by mast cells: Ultrasonographic and histopathological approaches.
OBJECTIVE
The inhibition of mast cells' degranulation may be an approach to prevent the formation of new vessels during the mammary carcinogenesis.


METHODS
Female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into five experimental groups. Mammary tumors were induced by intraperitoneal injection of N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Animals from group II were treated with ketotifen for 18weeks immediately after the MNU administration, while animals from group III only received the ketotifen after the development of the first mammary tumor. Mammary tumors vascularization was assessed by ultrasonography (Doppler, B Flow and contrast-enhanced ultrasound) and immunohistochemistry (vascular endothelial growth factor-A).


CONCLUSIONS
Similar to what occurs in women with breast cancer, the majority of MNU-induced mammary tumors exhibited a centripetal enhancement order of the contrast agent, clear margin and heterogeneous enhancement. Ultrasonographic and immunohistochemical data suggest that the inhibition of mast cells' degranulation did not change the mammary tumors vascularization.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lusophone University of Humanities and Technologies, Lisbon, Portugal; Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal. Electronic address: anafaustino.faustino@sapo.pt.
Ana I
AI
Faustino-Rocha
Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal; Animal and Veterinary Research Center (CECAV), School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
Adelina
A
Gama
Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
Paula A
PA
Oliveira
Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Katrien
K
Vanderperren
Department of Veterinary Medical Imaging and Small Animal Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Jimmy H
JH
Saunders
Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
Maria J
MJ
Pires
Organic Chemistry, Natural Products and Foodstuffs (QOPNA), Mass Spectrometry Center, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Rita
R
Ferreira
Center for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences (CITAB), University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD), Vila Real, Portugal; Department of Veterinary Sciences, School of Agrarian and Veterinary Sciences, UTAD, 5001-911 Vila Real, Portugal.
Mário
M
Ginja
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D007665:Ketotifen / Q000494:pharmacology; D015674:Mammary Neoplasms, Animal / Q000098:blood supply / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism; D008407:Mast Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D008770:Methylnitrosourea / Q000633:toxicity*; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014463:Ultrasonography
D008770:Methylnitrosourea; D007665:Ketotifen
Doppler; Ketotifen; MNU; Mammary tumor; Mast cells