Ricerche Sull'Azione Promovente della Follicolina nel Duplice Meccanismo della Carcinogenesi

Abstract

Studies were undertaken on an eventual initiating or promoting action of follicular hormone in the twofold mechanism of carcinogenesis on the mouse skin. Animals were grouped into two series. The first series was divided into two groups: one was painted with a folliculin oleous solution (Estrene 5) every 3 days, the other with a 5 per cent dilution of croton oil in estrene. The mice of the second series, previously submitted to three paintings with 3:4-benzpyrene, were divided into four groups: 1) control group, 2) painted with Estrene every 3 days, 3) treated with 5 per cent croton oil solution in olive oil, and 4) treated with 5 per cent dilution of croton oil in oleous solution of follicular hormone. Results show that the follicular hormone, either alone or combined with croton oil, fails to produce any initiating and promoting action when painted on mouse skin previously treated with sub-maximal doses of 3:4-benzpyrene. Folliculin, on the contrary, enhances considerably the promoting action of croton oil when painted with it on the skin sensitized with benzpyrene: a rather early appearance of epithelial projections without basal membrane and composed of atypical elements is seen, whereas in animals of the same series, long treated with paintings of croton oil diluted with olive oil or with oleous folliculin this picture is not observed.