Studies on the Pathogenesis of Plasma Cell Tumors: I. Effect of Cortisol on Development of Plasma Cell Tumors¹

The effect of administration of cortisol on the development of plasma cell tumors in BALB/c mice was studied. Mice of both sexes were injected i.p. with mineral oil. Mice injected with mineral oil alone demonstrated peritoneal lipogranuloma, hypercellular inflammatory ascites, sustained hyperglobulinemia and high incidence of plasma cell tumor development. Cortisoltreated mice failed to show these changes. Cortisol delayed dramatically the onset of plasma cell tumor development and decreased the total incidence of this neoplasm.