Changes in Lymphoreticular Tissues During Growth of a Murine Adenocarcinoma. II. Nucleic Acid Content and Synthesis in Lymph Nodes, Spleen, and Thymus2

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Abstract
Changes in the RNA, DNA, and protein content of regional lymph nodes, spleen, and thymus were followed during the growth of an isologous mouse mammary tumor. They were correlated with the ability of slices of these tissues to synthesize RNA and DNA in vitro at various stages during tumor growth. In early stages, lymph nodes had increased protein and nucleic acid content but no evidence of increased RNA synthesis. The RNA/DNA ratio was increased, and an influx of RNA-rich cells was suggested. In a second stage, both RNA and DNA synthesis rapidly increased but did not have a further marked increase in content. In the final stages, despite a rapid fall in DNA content, DNA synthesis remained maximally high until the mice died about 30 days after tumor implantation. At this stage, the RNA/DNA ratio was greatly increased. These results are compatible with a rapid efflux of DNA-rich cells from the nodes. The spleen showed similar changes, suggestive of early influx and later efflux of cells, whereas the thymus showed a marked decrease in both nucleic acid content and synthesizing capacity during the later stages of tumor growth.

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