Comparative Morphologic, Histochemical, and Serologic Studies on the Pathogenesis of Casein-Induced and Reticulosarcoma-Induced Amyloidosis in Mice<xref ref-type="fn" rid="fn1">2</xref>

Abstract

To detect possible differences in the pathogenesis of amyloid development induced by casein injections and by the growth of a transplantable reticulo-sarcoma, we conducted morphologic and histochemical investigations on organs and electrophoretic investigations on serums from casein-treated and sarcoma-bearing mice killed at various intervals during the induction period. The morphologic examinations followed the amyloid development from a phase with proliferative, pyroninophilic reticular cells through a short inversion stage with cytoplasmic periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) positivity, into the amyloid phase proper with increasing amounts of PAS-positive amyloid deposits. Particular attention was paid to the early stages of amyloid formation. With several histochemical methods, the main finding was that the acid mucopolysaccharides in the amyloid deposits increase during aging of the amyloid substance. Paper electrophoretic examination of serums showed that progressive amyloid development is associated with hypergammaglobulinemia, and is later combined with an increase in the ß- and α2-fractions. In Immunoelectrophoresis these changes manifested themselves as an increase in γ, β3-II (β2A), β3-I, β2-III, β2-I (transferrin), α2-I, and α2-II. The electrophoretic findings were correlated with the concomitant stages of morphologic changes. None of these investigations revealed any fundamental differences among the morphologic, histochemical, and serologic changes observed in the two types of amyloid induction.