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Changes in the Mitotic Index of the Landschütz Ascites Tumour after Treatment with Tumour-Inhibitory or Non-Inhibitory Samples of Gum-Tragacanth or with Gum Karaya

1964; Springer Nature; Volume: 18; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1038/bjc.1964.60

1532-1827

E. Mayhew, E. M. F. Roe,

Oral Health Pathology and Treatment

SAMPLES of gum tragacanth from various species of Astragalus have been shown (Roe, 1959) to inhibit, in vivo, the growth of several different mouse ascites tumours.Preliminary results of investigations into the mode of inhibitory action of gum tragacanth have also been reported (Galbraith, Mayhew and Roe, 1962).In the latter investigations it was shown that, in vitro, gum tragacanth becomes attached to the ascites tumour cell surface during the first 30 minutes' treatment with consequent damage to the cells.It was suggested, further, that the gum acts in vivo as a mitotic blocking agent against these tumour cells but the evidence for this was not conclusive.The results reported in the present paper demonstrate: (a) the effect of gum tragacanth on the mitotic index of Landschutz ascites tumour cells after in vivo treatment; and (b) the comparative mitotic effects of a non-tumourinhibitory gum, gum Karaya, and of several samples of gum tragacanth whose tumour-inhibitory action had been reduced by various chemical treatments. I. Anti-tumour Action of the GumsSix to eight weeks-old B alb. C-, or Y or C + 3 mice were inoculated intraperitoneally with a known number of Landschutz ascites tumour cells, usually 1P6 to 2-2 x 106 cells from a seven-days-old tumour.This tumour is a subline of the hyperdiploid Erlich carcinoma ascites tumour (Tjio and Levan, 1954).One day after tumour inoculation, batches of five tumour-bearing mice were injected intraperitoneally with 0-5 ml.sterile 0-9 per cent saline or with the agent suspended in 0 5 ml.saline.Seven days after tumour inoculation the animals were killed, the ascites tumour cells were extracted from the peritoneal cavity by washing with a large excess of sterile saline, the saline containing the cells from each batch of five mice was made up to 100 ml. and the total number of ascites tumour cells present was counted, using a Burker haemocytometer.A tumour-inhibition index, the ratio T/C, was then determined by dividing the mean number of cells present per treated mouse by the mean number of cells per control.The sample of native gum tragacanth used was a Tragacanthae pulvis B.P., Persian ribbon grade 2, powdered by B.D.H. Ltd., and this was employed as a standard test sample (referred to below as Trag.) throughout the investigations.