[Experimental study on oncogenicity of Aristolochia manshuriensis in rats]

To observe the oncogenetic process, biological behavior, pathological and immunohistochemical features of tumor induced by Aristolochia manshuriensis (AM) in rats.

Acute renal injury model was established with AM docoction in different dosages by gastrogavage to observe the histomorphologic and immunohistochemical features dynamically.

(1) At month 0, 1 and 3, the occurrence of renal tumor or tumor-like proliferation was not observed; (2) At month 6, the occurrence of renal tumor-like proliferation in all the three AM dosage groups (50 g/kg, 30 g/kg and 20 g/kg) was 100.0%. Immunohistochemical examination conducted in 2 rats showed that the short spindle-shaped interstitial cells were expressed positively both by vimentin and proliferative cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), but were shown negative for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and p53; (3) At month 6, the occurrence of renal tumor in the three dosage groups was 42.8%, 25.0% and 0% respectively, including 4 cases of renal mesenchymal tumor and 1 case of nephroblastoma. Immunohistochemical examination conducted in 3 cases of renal mesenchymal tumor showed that the short spindle-shaped tumor cells expressed both by vimentin and PCNA, and SMA and p53 were positive for well-differentiated tumor cells. (4) The occurrence of extrarenal tumor in the three dosage groups was 14.3%, 12.5% and 12.5% respectively, 1 case of mammary duct epithelial tumor, 1 thyroid follicle epithelial tumor and 1 skin appendicular epithelial tumor. No tumor occurred in the control group.

Large dosage of AM is oncogenic. The occurrence of renal tumor was relatively high, and the histological type is mainly mesenchymal. Vimentin, SMA, PCNA and p53 positive expression was shown for well-differentiated renal mesenchymal tumor. The occurrence of extrarenal tumor is rather low.