Abstract
The observation of the nerve distribution in the experimental hamster lingual cancer induced with 2.0% solution of 9, 10-dimethyl-1, 2-benzanthracene (DMBA) in acetone in the tongue of the Syrian hamster has been presented. The result were as follows : 1. Malignant epithelial tumor was found in 38 (76.0%) of 50 animals used for this study. 2. All malignant epithelial tumors were classified by the general histological findings, the behavior, as follows ; the ulcer type, the exophytic type, the exophytic polyp type with pedunculated and with sessile. 3. In the ulcer type, the granuration tissues forming around the ulcer have an amount of nerve fibers and nerve bundles of a middle and small sizes, but the nerve fibers and nerve bundles among the small nest of carcinoma cells were swollen slightly. 4. In the exophytic type, the single nerve fibers were seen frequently in the fibrous granulation tissues being formed beneath the mucosa, and among the epitherial pegs on developing. 5. In the exophytic type with pedunculation, the nerve bundles of the middle and small sizes, and the single nerve fibers were seen frequently in the comparatively wide stroma in the center of the polyp, though these were seen swollen and cracking. 6. In the exophytic type with sessile, the nerve tissues almost disappeared in the narrow stroma among the tumor cells. The nerve tissues were only in the little wider stroma of the tongue border, though these were not seen in the normal figure. 7. Regeneration of the nerve fiber in malignant epithelial tumor was not seen. As stated above, it is suggested that the difference of the nerve distribution in malignant epithelial tumor is related with the time process of tumor development and the development type of tumor, and that the nerve distribution is the one preexisting at the time of the growth of malignant tumor or regenerating nerve tissue in the process of the wound healing prior to the malignant tumor growth.
