FATE OF NICKEL SUBSULFIDE DURING CARCINOGENESIS STUDIED BY AUTO-RADIOGRAPHY AND X-RAY-POWDER DIFFRACTION

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  • 1 January 1979
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 39  (10) , 4175-4182
Abstract
Sarcomas in mice were induced by i.m. and s.c. administration of 63Ni- and 35S-labeled nickel subsulfide (Ni3S2). The fate of the Ni3S2 was studied in tumors and normal tissues during carcinogenesis. Whole-body autoradiography showed a gradual loss of solubilized 63Ni and 35S radioactivity from the site of injection. There was also a loss of nonsolubilized dust particles which appeared to be phagocytized by RES cells in the liver, spleen and regional lymph nodes. Microautoradiography showed that the totally dominating radioactivity within the 63Ni3S2- and the Ni335S2-induced tumors was associated with dust particles. There was no specific or excessive localization of solubilized radioactivity in the tumors or in metastases (when present). Two patterns of localization of dust particles within the tumors were observed: one with particles concentrated in a central part of the tumor and one with the particles present in the tumor periphery. X-ray powder diffraction of the insoluble crystalline material in the tumors indicated that a conversion of the .alpha.Ni3S2 to .alpha.Ni7S6 and .beta.NiS had occurred.