Modification of Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase Activity in Experimental Pineocytomas Induced in Hamsters by a Human Papovavirus (JC)

Hydroxyindole-O-methyltransferase (HIOMT) (HIOMT) activity was studied and compared in 7 pineal tumors (pineocytomas) induced in vivo in Syrian hamsters after postnatal inoculation with strains of human papovavirus (JC). Levels of tumor HIOMT activity were correlated with degree of cytologic differentiation of the pineocytes of each neoplasm, as judged from electrom micrographs. The relative capacities of the HIOMT in the tumors to methylate three related substrates gave similar ratios in the individual tumors and were not different from those of HIOMT in normal hamster pineal glands.