The Growth of Estrogen-Induced Interstitial-Cell Testicular Tumors in BALB/c Mice

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Abstract
Strain BALB/c male mice, 2 months old, were implanted with stilbestrol-cholesterol pellets, which were removed either when one or both testes became enlarged to 9 to 10 mm. in length, or 2 weeks later. The interstitial-cell tumors thus induced were measured weekly and the growth patterns analyzed. There were at least 7 separable growth patterns, which again could be combined into tumors that grew, persisted without continued growth, or regressed; a proportion of the latter recurred after variable periods. Bilateral tumors behaved as variably as unilateral tumors. Mice exposed to estrogen 2 weeks longer after the appearance of a tumor had more tumors that grew progressively and fewer that regressed than mice whose pellets were removed as soon as they developed tumors. Exposure of mice to testosterone or to progesterone did not affect the rate of recurrence of tumors that had regressed. The variability of growth patterns indicates no single evolutionary progression for the tumors but a great number of general and local factors in what biologically must be an unstable system between tumor and host.

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