Abstract
Crocker mouse sarcoma 180 represents a very stable type of tumor. After inoculation into the strain of mice used by us the tumor grows in 95-98% of the animals. Its rate of growth is very rapid. The animals usually die about 6 weeks after transplantation.
We observed that the composition of the urine of the sarcoma mice differs in certain respects from that of the urine of normal mice. The urine of normal mice gives a copious precipitate on addition of metaphosphoric, acetic acid (Bang's reagent) or sulpho-salicylic acid; this precipitate is markedly diminished in the urine of mice previously inoculated with sarcoma 180. Before the addition of the precipitating reagent, the urine was filtered or centrifuged and the supernatant fluid decanted. The urine of mice has a pH 5.6. After filtration the urine still remains opalescent. Following addition of a diluted mineral acid the urine becomes turbid.
We observed that the addition of sodium fluoride preceding the addition of the precipitating reagent inhibits the formation of the precipitate in the urine of normal mice which otherwise takes place under the influence of metaphosphoric acid. This indicated the importance of calcium in the production of the precipitate.
We compared therefore the concentration of calcium in urine of 150 normal and 150 sarcoma mice. Amount of Ca in mg. per 1 cc. of urine: Normal mice, 0.056-0.13; cancer mice, 0.023-0.042.
Urine of cancer mice contains therefore a smaller amount of calcium than urine of normal mice. It was possible to increase the amount of calcium in urine, normal as well as of cancer mice, by the previous oral administration of calcium salts to the animals. Thus after oral administration of 0.1 gm. of calcium gluconate in 2 cc. H2O we found in 1 cc. of urine of a sarcoma mouse collected during the following 12 hours 0.5 mg. Ca.
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