Histochemistry of giant cells in tumours induced in golden hamsters by murine sarcoma virus‐harvey

Tumours induced by murine sarcoma virus‐Harvey (MSV‐H) in golden hamsters are characterized by the presence of multinucleate giant cells. A histochemical study was undertaken to determine the relationship of the giant cells to each other and to the surrounding tumour. It was shown that the giant cells were not a homogeneous cell population. Those found in subcutaneous tumours showed no substrate‐specific phosphatases and had marked histochemical similarity to cells of the adjacent tumour. In paw, muscle and bone‐eroding tumours, most of the giant cells showed strong substrate‐specific phosphatase activity and no histochemical resemblance to cells of the adjacent tumour. Giant cells probably related to skeletal muscle were seen only where muscle was infiltrated by tumour. It was concluded that the giant cells were possibly related to the tumour cells only in the case of the subcutaneous tumours and that in the other tumours they were probably related to macrophages.