Relationship between functional castration and alphafetoprotein produced by hepatoma-bearing female rats

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Abstract
In rats bearing Morris hepatoma no. 7777, serum levels of .alpha.-fetoprotein (AFP) increased as tumor size increased. Hepatoma-bearing females remained in diestrus once the tumor exceeded a cross-sectional area of 12 cm2. The following changes were seen in tumor-bearing rats compared to control animals: uterine wet weight was significantly decreased, the uterine epithelial mucosa was lower, castration cells developed in the anterior pituitary and there was a 3- to 23-fold elevation in serum estrogen levels. Circulating estrogen is bound to AFP in hepatoma-bearing female rats and in this bound state it is unable to exert its normal physiological actions.