ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC AUTORADIOGRAPHY OF THE PANCREAS IN THE HAMSTER TREATED WITH TRITIATED N-NITROSO-2,6-DIMETHYLMORPHOLINE

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (7) , 2245-2251
Abstract
Syrian golden hamsters were given a single dose of [the carcinogen] [3H]-N-nitroso-2,6-dimethylmorpholine and killed 8 h later. The pancreas was processed for EM autoradiography to detect binding of radioactivity to cellular constituents. The pancreatic acinar cells and duct epithelia were labeled, while islet cells, centroacinar cells and all nonepithelial elements were not. Acinar cells active in secreting zymogen had a high concentration of grains over the zymogen granules and the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Their nonsecreting counterparts contained abundant bound material in the nuclei and rough endoplasmic reticulum. Labeling was lower in the duct epithelia than in acinar cells, with the majority of grains associated with the heterochromatin. The acinar cells apparently are the principle site of metabolic activation in this organ.