GENETIC ALTERATIONS IN THE 61ST CODON OF THE H-RAS ONCOGENE ISOLATED FROM ARCHIVAL SECTIONS OF HEPATIC HYPERPLASIAS, ADENOMAS AND CARCINOMAS IN CONTROL-GROUPS OF B6C3F1 MOUSE BIOASSAY STUDIES CONDUCTED FROM 1979 TO 1986

In order to better understand the molecular events in murine hepatocarcinogenesis, the frequency and types of mutations in the murine H-ras proto-oncogene isolated from 184 independent, spontaneously occurring hepatic lesions were determined. Hepatocellular foci, hyperplasias, adenomas and carcinomas were obtained from archival samples of control male (134 samples) and female (50 samples) B6C3F1 mice used in oncogenicity studies that were conducted at Lilly Research Laboratories from 1979 to 1986. The 61st codon region of the H-ras oncogene from these sections was amplified using the polymerase chain reaction. Mutation frequencies were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The types of mutations were characterized by allele-specific oligonucleotide hybridization and confirmed by DNA sequencing. Forty-two per cent of the carcinomas, 44% of the adenomas, 42% of the hyperplasias and 29% of the foci contained mutations at the 61 codon. The mutation spectra for the carcinomas, adenomas and hyperplasias consisted of mostly CAA-AAA transversions, followed by CAA-CGA transitions, followed by CAA-CTA transversions. These results demonstrate that: (i) the frequency of spontaneous mutations in the H-ras 61st codon is equivalent in murine hyperplasias, adenomas and carcinomas, and (ii) sex was not a determining factor in either the mutation frequency or mutation spectrum for the spontaneous lesions. If these lesions represent successive stages in the carcinogenic process, then these results suggest that mutations in the 61st codon of H-ras are early events in spontaneous murine hepatocarcinogenesis.