EBIS in differential total DNA of spontaneous tumors of mammary glands in aged Wistar rats

Abstract Spontaneous mammary gland tumors are common in elderly humans and rodents. While benign tumors are the most frequently detected, some tumors can also develop malignancy. Tumor gene expression profile predicts their neoplastic transformation, and total DNA could be associated with differential degradation and changes in its electrical properties; such characterizations might contribute to analyzing their pathophysiology to control their development. The objective of this study was to establish the gene expression profile characteristic of the histology of spontaneous mammary gland tumors and correlate it with changes in their electrical properties measured through Electrical Bioimpedance Spectroscopy (EBIS). The study included sixteen female Wistar rats, 10 of which spontaneously developed mammary gland tumors, and six without tumors used as control group. A histological study was carried out, and the tumors were grouped according to their anatomopathological characteristics and categorized as malignant and benign. Subsequently, gene expression of hexokinase I (HXKI) and 18S ribosomal subunit (18SrRNA) was performed. EBIS measurements were developed in pool samples of total DNA for every tumor, benign and control groups. Malignant tumors showed overexpression of glycolytic enzymes HXKI, while benign tumors showed higher expression of 18SrRNA. EBIS measurement showed differential spectra for every experimental group explored. In conclusion, benign and malignant mammary gland tumors in aged rats exhibit a distinct genetic expression profile, and their differential electrical properties of total DNA could be characterized through EBIS measurements.