Spontaneous Follicular Center Cell Lymphomas of B Cell Origin in Cataract Mice

Spontaneous lymphomas from a strain of hereditary cataract (CAC‐nct/+) mice were examined by light and electron microscopy and by immunohistochemical reaction for the mouse heavy and light immunoglobulin chains. Lymphomas occurred in 28 out of 45 male cataract mice and in 34 out of 52 females at 25 to 65 weeks of age. All of the lymphoma‐bearing mice showed an enlargement of the spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes, and some mice also had hepatomegaly. Morphologically, all tumors were composed of a mixed population of small and large cells. Neoplastic cells had features of follicular center cell lymphomas, such as scant to moderate amounts of cytoplasm and cleaved and/or round nuclei with a large nuclear‐to‐cytoplasmic ratio. Large cells were often admixed with small cells, and had vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli juxtaposed to the nuclear membrane. Intracytoplasmic eosinophilic inclusions were observed in occasional cells, but Golgi apparatus was poorly developed and rough‐surfaced endoplasmic reticulum was scant, unlike those in plasma cells. C‐particles were seen in all lymphoma‐bearing mice by electron microscopy. Intracisternal A‐particles were detected in some mice. Immunohistochemically, neoplastic lymphoid cells were positive for the kappa light chain and the surface/cytoplasmic immunoglobulin M. These results indicate that lymphoid cell neoplasms found in hereditary cataract mice originate from follicular center B cells.