[Age-related characteristics of tumor development in ovaries transplanted into the rat spleen]

Female rats were ovariectomized at the age of 3 or 14-16 months, one of the ovaries being autologously transplanted into the spleen. The frequency of tumor development in transplanted ovaries was identical in both age groups. Older rats developed ovarian androblastoma earlier and with higher frequency, while granulosa cell tumors of the ovaries prevailed in the younger age group. 35.8% rats with intrasplenic tumours had other neoplasms. Age is thought to be the key factor influencing the proliferative activity of spleen-transplanted ovarian tissues in response to carcinogenic challenge.