Transplantation of B16/C3 melanoma cells into the brains of rats and mice.
The B16/C3 mouse melanoma cell line produces L-DOPA, catecholamines and melanin in tissue culture. Growth and development of these cells after transplantation into the rat and mouse brain were studied by immunocytochemical and histological techniques. The implanted cells were localized by prelabelling the cell nuclei with bisbenzimide, a fluorescent marker which binds to DNA. Following transplantation into rats, B16/C3 melanoma cells were found to survive for at least 4-6 weeks. These cells initially expressed tyrosinase and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity and in some cases contained catecholamines. After 3 weeks, the cytoplasm of the transplanted cells began to accumulate melanin; catecholamines and tyrosinase immunoreactivity were no longer detected. Ultimately the cells became round in shape and densely pigmented. Growth of the tumor in the rats was restricted and the implant was encapsulated within a glial sheath. There was evidence of an immune reaction to the tumor in that cells with Ia antigen immunoreactivity were present surrounding the graft. The rat hosts were not adversely affected by the presence of the tumor, nor did the tumor cell grafts alter rotational behavior consequent to unilateral substantia nigra lesions. In mouse hosts, however, the melanoma grew rapidly, was not encapsulated by glia and led to death of all animals. These data suggest that the tumor was not rapidly destroyed in rats, even though its growth was controlled through immunological mechanisms. Both trophic and immunological mechanisms may therefore be involved in the regulation of survival and differentiation of intracerebral grafts of tumor cells.
Freed
W J
WJ
NIMH Neurosciences Center, St. Elizabeths, Washington, DC 20032.
Adinolfi
A M
AM
Laskin
J D
JD
Geller
H M
HM
D000818:Animals; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism*; D002460:Cell Line; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008545:Melanoma; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000637:transplantation*
D002395:Catecholamines; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D006690:Bisbenzimidazole