| Abstract: | The relationship of aging to carcinogenesis was immunologically examined in the hamster-bovine adenovirus type 3 system. The age of animals at the time of virus inoculation influenced the tumor growth and latency period, but not the tumor incidence. The immunological competence of hamsters to sheep red blood cells became matured around 4 weeks after birth and was not affected by the infection of bovine adenovirus type 3 (BAV-3). The strength of transplant immunity was dependent on the age of animals at the time of immunization. The growth of progressive type of tumors induced by inoculation with BAV-3 into younger animals was inhibited by the repeated inoculation of excess dose of BAV-3, administration of BCG and transfer of sensitized lymphocytes during the tumor latency. The growth of non-progressive type of tumors induced by inoculation with BAV-3 into adult hamsters was accelerated by administration of antithymocyte serum or thymectomy. The tolerance to tumor specific transplantation antigens did not play a critical role in the present system. The blocking activity to sensitized lymphocytes was demonstrated in the sera taken from hamsters developing a progressive type of tumor even in the early period of carcinogenesis. |
