INAPPROPRIATE SECRETION OF ANTI-DIURETIC HORMONE IN NUDE-MICE BEARING A HUMAN BRONCHOGENIC OAT-CELL CARCINOMA

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 41  (4) , 1545-1548
Abstract
A 58 yr old man with bronchogenic oat cell carcinoma developed a typical syndrome of inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone. The tumor tissue obtained at autopsy was serially transplanted in nude mice for 4 yr with 20 passages. The levels of vasopressin were remarkably increased in the plasma of nude mice bearing this tumor [24.4 .+-. 18.3 (SD) pg/ml, n = 3] as well as in the tumor tissues [134.3 .+-. 72.2 ng/g, n = 3]. Human nicotine-stimulated neurophysin was detected in plasma and tumor tissues (7.4 .+-. 3.7 ng/ml, n = 3, and 2.28 .+-. 0.90 .mu.g/g, n = 3, respectively). On ad lib intake of water, nude mice bearing this tumor excreted significantly less urine with higher Na concentration than did controls, but serum Na concentrations did not differ from those of controls. When tumor-bearing mice were hydrated with 2 ml of water twice a day i.p., their diuretic response was suppressed in parallel with the tumor size. These mice did not become hyponatremic because they drank less water. When a larger amount of water was loaded which could not be compensated by restriction of water drinking, serum Na concentrations were markedly decreased. The lung cancer, when transplanted into nude mice, produced and secreted its own antidiuretic hormone, which induced inappropriate secretion of antidiuretic hormone in the mice. These mice may provide a useful experimental model for the study of excessive secretion of antidiuretic hormone and associated pathophysiological disorders.