The effect of neoplasia or pregnancy on the tissue desoxypentosenucleic acid.

Abstract

The specific activity of desoxypentosenucleic acid was measured in the liver, spleen, kidneys, and small intestines of ( a ) A strain mice bearing bilateral transplants of Strong's mammary carcinoma, ( b ) pregnant mice, ( c ) Slonaker rats with bilateral lymphosarcomas. It was also measured in the liver and spleen of pregnant rats. In all groups investigated the specific activity of the desoxypentosenucleic acid of the liver, spleen, and kidneys was found to be higher than that of the controls. In the small intestines no appreciable rise was noted. In the mice bearing mammary carcinoma the specific activity of the desoxypentosenucleic acid of the liver shows a clear relationship to the age of the tumor. Inconclusive attempts were made to find some agent which might cause this rise in specific activity of DNA.