In serial sacrifice experiment, outbred male Syrian golden hamsters were treated once weekly for life with subcutaneous injections of N-nitroso-bis(2-hydroxypropyl) amine (DIPN). The pancreas was examined by high resolution light (1-micro sections) and transmission electron microscopy. Early nonspecific changes in all pancreatic epithelial cellular elements were followed by a progressive proliferation of intra- and interlobular duct cells, with the development of multicentric foci of cystic and papillary cystic adenomas, intraductal carcinomas, and invasive ductal neoplasms. These observations were consistent with multistage morphogenesis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma of ductal origin.