title: Culture of embryos and cells from platyfish and swordtails for carcinogenicity testing and studies on melanoma formation.
abstract: We introduce inbred strains of platyfish and swordtails as well as their hybrids as laboratory animals for carcinogenicity testing. We especially propose to take advantage of the platyfish-swordtail melanoma system, which permits the breeding of animals with high susceptibility to carcinogen-induced melanoma. Based on our present view that, in melanoma formation, such fundamental processes as the determination and differentiation of a specific cell type are affected, we suggest the use of embryos and embryo-derived cell cultures. In both systems, all stages of pigment cell differentiation can be followed and screened for abnormal development. The in vitro culture of the embryos of the viviparous fish and the establishment of cell cultures are described.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005393:Fish Diseases / Q000235:genetics*; D005399:Fishes / Q000196:embryology* / Q000235:genetics; D006824:Hybridization, Genetic; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000662:veterinary*; D008547:Melanophores; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens