The Lipid and Water Content of Carcass, Skeletal Muscle, and Testicle in the Host Component of the Albino Rat – Walker Carcinoma 256 Dual Organism at Progressive Stages of Tumor Growth

Abstract

The objective of this investigation was to find at what stage in the growth of Walker carcinoma 256 appear the shifts in water and lipid levels of host carcass, skeletal muscle, and testicle, noted at or near death of the dual organism by Boyd, Connell, and McEwen (1952). Lipid and water estimations were made upon these tissues, at intervals of one, two, and three weeks of tumor growth, in 35 tumor-bearing and 34 littermate control albino rats. In host carcass, the decline in concentration, per 100 gm. dry weight, of total lipid, neutral fat, and total fatty acids appeared after two weeks of tumor growth, while at or about the same time a rise occurred in the levels of water, total cholesterol, free cholesterol, and phospholipid. In hind limb skeletal muscle of the host, the levels of total lipid, neutral fat, and total fatty acids were lowered, while those of water were elevated, after two and three weeks of tumor growth. In host testicle, the levels of water and lipids were essentially similar to those of the controls. The rise in concentration of water, phospholipid, total cholesterol, and free cholesterol of the host varied, in general, with increase in the T/RC coefficient. Maximal low levels of host total lipid, neutral fat, and total fatty acids were reached at T/RC coefficient values of 20 to 30. Maintenance of total body weight (tumor plus host) was due mainly to accumulation of water in both components. The host component lost dry weight, total lipid, neutral fat, and total fatty acids more rapidly than these accumulated in the tumor in total amount. The smaller loss of total amounts of water, phospholipid, total cholesterol, and free cholesterol in the host was offset by an approximately equal accumulation of these substances in the tumor.