Biochemically differentiated neoplastic clone of Schwann cells

Four clonal lines have been established in tissue culture from a transplantable tumor of cervical nerve-root induced transplacentally with ethylnitrosourea in an inbred BD-IX rat strain. One clone (RN-2) has several biochemical properties of the nervous system that led to its classification as a Schwann cell line, namely (a) the synthesis of the nervous system specific protein S-100, (b) a high specific activity of 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide-3'-phosphohydrolase, an enzyme present in high specific activity only in glial cells, and (c) the presence of a basic protein related by immunological crossreaction, molecular size, and amino-acid composition to the encephalitogenic protein from beef brain myelin. Clone RN-2 has a high plating efficiency, a doubling time of about 20 hr, and a mean of 43 chromosomes of normal morphology. Clone RN-2 has also been inoculated subcutaneously into syngeneic rats and grown as a clonal tumor with good growth properties.

An improved rat brain-tumor model

The widely used intracerebral tumor implantation method by freehand injection into parietal or hippocampal areas of the rat brain has proven inadequate for reliable experimental therapeutic studies. Problems include poor intracerebral growth yields and significant rates of spread to extracranial tissues, lungs, and spinal cord. Major variables have been examined experimentally on a model using nitrosourea-induced nervous system tumor cell lines in sygeneic rats. A rapid stereotaxic method greatly improved the consistency of tumor placement. The optimal site was found to be the caudate nucleus. The production of a spheroid intracerebral growth was further facilitated by the use of 1% agar in the cell suspension medium and by an injection volume of 10 mu1 containing at least 10(4) cells. Further improvements involved injection technique and flushing of the operative field. These modifications have resulted in a 99% to 100% yield of intracerebral growth, with a marked reduction in the number and size of extracranial extensions and with distant metastasis rates of 0% to 5%. These results have continually improved with further experience. The method is satisfactory for radiation and chemotherapeutic trials in which survival time as an index of tumor size may be used an an end point.

Studies on experimental malignant nerve sheath tumors maintained in tissue and organ culture systems. II. Electron microscopy observations

The sequential electron microscopic features of six malignant nerve sheath tumors (three cranial and three spinal) induced in rats by transplacental ethylnitrosourea and maintained in organ culture systems were compared with those of a human acoustic Schwannoma similarly cultured. After 4 weeks in vitro, the malignant tumor cells often showed progressive elongation of their processes, with the development of an interdigitating pattern resembling that seen in well-differentiated Schwannomas. This was accompanied by an increase of microtubules. Basal lamina formation, less well-developed and less complete than in the benign Schwannoma in this study, was maintained in culture. Some explants demonstrated an increase in number and width of collagen fibrils, accompanied by a relative concomitant decrease of inter-cellular basement membrane material. The malignant tumor cells also showed numerous micropinocytotic vesicles and various junctional complexes, which are characteristic of perineurial cells. Since the origin of the experimental tumors from adult Schwann cells seems well established, this apparent contradiction is best resolved by the concept that Schwann cells and perineurial fibroblasts are functional variants of the same cell type.

The effects of 860 MHz radiofrequency radiation on the induction or promotion of brain tumors and other neoplasms in rats

Sprague-Dawley rats were irradiated with a continuous- wave (CW) or a pulsed-wave (P) radiofrequency (RF) for 6 h/day, 5 days/week from 2 up to 24 months of age. The RFs emanated from dipole antennas (1 W average output) 2.0 +/- 0.5 cm from the tip of each rat's nose. The RFs had an 860 MHz frequency, and the specific absorption rate was 1.0 W/ kg averaged over the brain. Fifteen groups of 60 rats (900 total) were formed from offspring of females injected i.v. with 0 (groups 1, 2, 9, 10, 13), 2.5 (groups 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 12, 14) or 10 mg/kg (groups 3, 4, 15) ethylnitrosourea (ENU) to induce brain tumors. Groups 1, 3, 5 and 7 received the PRF, and groups 9 and 11 the CWRF; groups 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 were sham-irradiated, and groups 13-15 were cage controls. All rats but 2, totaling 898, were necropsied, and major tissues were studied histopathologically. There was no statistically significant evidence that the PRF or CWRF induced neoplasia in any tissues. Additionally, there was no significant evidence of promotion of cranial or spinal nerve or spinal cord tumors. The PRF or CWRF had no statistically significant effect on the number, volume, location, multiplicity, histological type, malignancy or fatality of brain tumors. There was a trend for the group that received a high dose of ENU and was exposed to the PRF to develop fatal brain tumors at a higher rate than its sham group; however, the result was not significant using the log-rank test (P = 0.14, 2-tailed). No statistically significant differences were related to the PRF or CWRF compared to controls in the low- or zero-dose groups regarding tumors of any kind.

Cerebral tumors induced by transplacental ENU: study of the different tumoral stages, particularly of early proliferations

Experimental cerebral tumors have been induced by transplacental ENU. A systematic diachronic study of the brains has been performed starting from the 15th day of extrauterine life. The tumoral lesions firstly appear as "early stage proliferations" or oligodendroglial foci and develop as glial micro- and macrotumors or as isomorphic and polymorphic oligodendrogliomas respectively. Neurinomas appear later than glial tumors. The duration of the different lesions is sketched out. The usefulness of the model for chemotherapy studies is discussed.

Three-dimensional imaging of nerve tissue by x-ray phase-contrast microtomography

We show that promising information about the three-dimensional (3D) structure of a peripheral nerve can be obtained by x-ray phase-contrast microtomography (p-microCT; Beckmann, F., U. Bonse, F. Busch, and O. Günnewig, 1997. J. Comp. Assist. Tomogr. 21:539-553). P-microCT measures electronic charge density, which for most substances is proportional to mass density in fairly good approximation. The true point-by-point variation of density is thus determined in 3D at presently 1 mg/cm3 standard error (SE). The intracranial part of the rat trigeminal nerve analyzed for the presence of early schwannoma "microtumors" displayed a detailed density structure on p-microCT density maps. The average density of brain and nerve tissue was measured to range from 0.990 to 0.994 g/cm3 and from 1.020 to 1.035 g/cm3, respectively. The brain-nerve interface was well delineated. Within the nerve tissue, a pattern of nerve fibers could be seen that followed the nerve axis and contrasted against the bulk by 7 to 10 mg/cm3 density modulation. Based on the fact that regions of tumor growth have an increased number density of cell nuclei, and hence of the higher z element phosphorus, it may become possible to detect very early neural "microtumors" through increases of average density on the order of 10 to 15 mg/cm3 by using this method.

Spleen-cell reactivity against transplanted neurogenic rat tumors induced by ethylnitrosourea: uncovering of tumor specificity after removal of complement-receptor-bearing lymphocytes

Spleen cells from BDIX-rats bearing either GVlAl-tumor (a syngeneic mixed glioma) or NVlAc-tumor (a cloned syngeneic neurinoma of the peripheral nervous system) were cytotoxic to both tumor cells in vitro. However, the tumors displayed individually distinct antigenic specificities by in vivo rejection tests. Their in vitro cross-reactivity disappeared when a particular subpopulation of the spleen cells was used. The procedure of lymphocyte purification included three consecutive steps: treatment with carbonyl iron and magnetism, passage through a nylon wool column, and finally removal of complement receptor-bearing cells present in the colum-excluded population. Cross-reactivity between the syngeneic tumors persisted after the first two steps of lymphocyte purification. In contrast, specific cytotoxic reactions were observed against each individual tumor subsequent to the removal of the remaining C3 receptor-positive but surface Ig-negative cells. While killer cells were present in normal spleen-cell populations, these were almost completely eliminated by passage through the nylon wool column.

Sequential development of ethylnitrosourea-induced neurinomas: morphology, biochemistry, and transplantability

Sequential evaluations were made of the morphology and biochemistry of trigeminal nerves from control and ethylnitrosourea (ENU)-exposed rats from 1 day to 6 months of age. Distinct increases in cellularity were evident as early as 20 days after exposure to ENU. Corresponding increases in N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase and beta-glucuronidase were detected at the same time. Transplantation studies were performed with grossly normal trigeminal nerves from 32-, 63-, and 91-day-old control and ENU-exposed rats. One of eight nerves from the 32-day-old ENU-exposed donors developed into neurinomas at the site of transplantation. No tumors developed from nerves of controls. These results indicate that the early increases in cellularity and acid hydrolase activities represent neoplastic rather than preneoplastic changes.

Oncogenic response of rats with x-ray-induced microcephaly to transplacental ethylnitrosourea

The relation of congenital malformations to tumor development was examined. Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were given 200 rads of X-rays on the 15th or 16th day of gestation and injections of 10 mg ethylnitrosourea (ENU)/kg 1-4 days later, or they were irradiated or injected only. Surviving weanlings that had been irradiated had micrencephaly and other malformations. Offspring exposed to ENU only had no external deformities. By 15 months of age 16.7% of the offspring exposed to X-rays and ENU prenatally had developed neurogenic tumors, whereas 62.2% of those exposed to ENU alone had developed tumors. Those only irradiated had no tumors. Both of the former groups developed oligodendrogliomas, mixed gliomas, ependymomas, and schwannomas, but the first manifestations of tumors occurred later in the group receiving the combined treatment. This delay persisted furing the subsequent period of the study.

MNU induction of neoplasia in a platyfish model

Interspecific hybrid crosses between members of the fish genus Xiphophorus have been used for over 70 years to study the genetic aspects of melanoma formation. In the well-established "Gordon-Kosswig" cross, the platyfish X. maculatus is outcrossed to the swordtail X. helleri, and the resulting backcross segregants spontaneously develop melanoma. We recently produced a distinct cross between X. maculatus and another platyfish species, X. couchianus. X. maculatus strain Jp 163 A is homozygous for several X-linked pigment pattern genes, including the Spotted dorsal (Sd), Dorsal red (Dr), and Anal fin spot (Af). Af is a sex-limited trait, coding exclusively for melanophores distributed on the modified anal fin or "gonopodium" in the adult male fish. Within F1 and BC1 hybrids (to X. couchianus), the Sd pigment pattern is phenotypically suppressed, whereas Dr and Af are enhanced. We exposed BC1 hybrids to the direct-acting carcinogen N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Treatment led to the development of schwannomas, fibrosarcomas, and retinoblastomas. In addition, numerous MNU-treated males that inherited Af developed a pronounced melanotic phenotype, with melanin-containing cells oftentimes totally covering the gonopodium and extending further to grow within the ventral regions of the fish. Genetic linkage analysis of the BC1 hybrids revealed a significant (p < 0.01) association between CDKN2X genotype and the phenotypic degree of melanization. Such an association is consistent with a locus within linkage group V playing a role in the development of melanosis and delineates three genetic preconditions and a carcinogenic scheme resulting in melanosis of the ventral regions of hybrid fish. The overall study further alludes to the potential of using Xiphophorus fish to study carcinogenic mechanisms for tumors other than melanoma (schwannoma, fibrosarcoma, and retinoblastoma) and should enable extensive pathologic and molecular genetic studies of derived neoplastic abnormalities.

Excess chromosome no. 4 in ethylnitrosourea-induced neurogenic tumor lines of the rat

The chromosomes in 15 cell lines derived from separate tumors induced in rats by ethylnitrosourea (ENU) are described. Thirteen lines were neural (glioma or schwannoma) in origin and type. In 12 of these lines, excess chromosome no. 4 could be demonstrated by Giemsa banding. One to three extra no. 4 chromosomes were seen as numerical or structural abnormalities. Also noted were other changes that were not consistent among lines. The 12 lines produced tumors in newborn rats. The 13th neurogenic line lacked excess chromosome no. 4 and did not produce tumors. The remaining 2 lines were nonneurogenic and lacked excess chromosome no. 4 but produced tumors. Control studies included chromosome analyses of bone marrow preparations from ENU-treated rats with tumors, cell lines from brains of normal rat embryos, and 2 established nonneurogenic rat tumor lines. No excess chromosome no. 4 was seen. These results suggest that nondisjunction and/or rearrangement of chromosome no. 4 is associated with the oncogenic process in neurogenic tumors induced.