Metabolic Differences Between Two Transmission Lines of Mouse Leukemia. ∗

Abstract

The experiments of Warburg 1 on the metabolic differences between tumors and normal tissues have stimulated similar investigations in leukemia. Although considerable data have accumulated relative to the metabolism of the cells in leukemia, many of the conclusions have been contradictory.

The following investigation has been undertaken as part of the program conducted in these laboratories in which the genetics, pathology and cytology of transmissible leukemia of mice have been reported by MacDowell, Richter and Potter. 2 The genetically controlled material developed in their studies is particularly suitable for metabolic experiments. The oxygen consumption and both aerobic and anaerobic glycolysis of normal lymph nodes and leukemic lymph nodes of 2 distinct transmission lines, designated A and I, have been studied by one of us.

All animals were from strain C-58 in which 100% were susceptible to the transmitted disease. Line I killed the inoculated animals in 3 to 4 days, Line A in 6 to 8 days. Infiltration of the lymph nodes in Line I has been shown to be complete in 72 hours, while in Line A, 4 days.

Method. The animals were 6 to 8 weeks old. The experimental animals were of the same sex and almost invariably litter mates. Congested, hemorrhagic and necrotic glands were discarded. Four normal animals were sacrificed for each determination of the QQ2, QO2 CO2 and QN2 CO2 of the lymph nodes. In Line I, one or 2 animals were used; in Line A the lymph nodes of 3 mice were combined to obtain sufficient material. The quantity of tissue in each respirometer varied from 30 to 70 mg. moist weight. The nodes of Line I were used 3 days after inoculation, of Line A, 5 to 6 days after inoculation.