Spontaneous Tumors and Common Diseases in Three Types of Hamsters2

Abstract

Hamsters of three types designated as inbred cream (Epp/e/e), linebred white (EPP/cdcd/RB/A), and linebred albino (EPP/cdcde/e) were thoroughly examined histopathologically for spontaneous diseases. All hamsters were maintained simultaneously for life under identical standard laboratory conditions. Marked differences were found in longevity of the animals and in incidence, sites, patterns, and types of spontaneous diseases. In cream hamsters (CH), survival time was shorter than in white hamsters (WH) and albino hamsters (AH). More tumors and malignant lesions unrelated to survival were found in AH compared to CH and WH; also, the multiplicity of neoplasms were more pronounced in AH. The predominating tumor types differed in each line: Pancreatic islet cell neoplasms were most common in CH, adrenal gland tumors predominated in WH, and thyroid gland tumors in AH. Also, the relative incidence of spontaneous tumors varied among the lines. Some tumors seemed strain-specific and were not seen in other lines; malignant melanomas, for example, occurred only in CH and WH. Certain neoplasms, e.g., those of the thyroid and adrenal glands, were found more often in one sex than the other. The three hamster groups differed also in nonneoplastic diseases. Detailed histopathologic findings are presented and compared with data on the Syrian golden hamster, the ancestral line of these three groups.

Chronic Hepatitis, Hepatic Dysplasia, Fibrosis, and Biliary Hyperplasia in Hamsters Naturally Infected with a Novel Helicobacter Classified in the H. bilis Cluster

“…In a subsequent paper, the authors evaluated three strains of hamsters (strains CW, WH, and AH) from the Eppley Institute maintained under the same conditions. A direct relationship between age and the time of appearance of multiple tumors was evident (36). Polyps of the ceca were detected in all three groups of hamsters and were invariably associated with chronic proliferative colitis.…”

Spontaneous Nonneoplastic Lesions in Control Syrian Hamsters in Three 24-month Long-term Carcinogenicity Studies

“…43, No. 2, 2015 NONNEOPLASTIC LESIONS IN SYRIAN HAMSTERSare found in 3 hamster strains (white, albino, and cream hamsters; Pour et al 1979). Acinar cell atrophy in the pancreas was noted at a moderate incidence in the long-term studies analyzed for this article.…”

“…Liver cysts and bile duct proliferation occurred in 3 strains of hamster (cream, white, and albino; Pour et al 1979) and are reported at MCINNES ET AL. TOXICOLOGIC PATHOLOGY a relatively high frequency (49-70%) in older male and female Han:AURA hamsters (Kamino et al 2001).…”

“…Male and female Syrian hamsters have an equally high incidence of atrial thrombosis and myocardial degeneration, despite the females' much shorter life span (McMartin 1979). Thrombosis of the cardiac atrium occurred at a high incidence in cream, white, and albino hamsters (Pour et al 1979) and is reported in both male and female Han:AURA hamsters (Kamino et al 2001) at an incidence of 30% and 46% in male and female animals, respectively. Female hamsters are more commonly affected than male hamsters, and the syndrome may be associated with amyloidosis (Percy and Barthold 2007).…”

“…Mineralization of the prostate and atrophy of the seminiferous tubules were noted at a high incidence in male hamsters, bursal cysts were noted in the ovaries, and granular cell hyperplasia and endometrial cysts were observed in the uterus in female animals in our long-term studies. Prostate calcification is reported in cream, white, and albino hamsters (Pour et al 1979) and is reported at an incidence of 31% in Han:AURA hamsters. Testicular atrophy is reported in male Han:AURA hamsters at an incidence of 40% (Kamino et al 2001).…”