Experimental models of brainstem tumors: development of a neonatal rat model.
OBJECTIVE
Brainstem tumor models are required to advance the treatment for diffuse pontine gliomas in children. The feasibility of creating an experimental rodent model by inoculating newborn pups with tumor cells was examined. The study was performed to create an animal model for diffuse brainstem tumors.


METHODS
Eighty-two Fischer rat pups aged 12-24 h were anesthetized by hypothermia. The brainstem was injected with saline to identify anatomical coordinates for subsequent tumor cell challenges. The newborn pups were then inoculated with F98 (n=30) or 9L (n=30) glioma cells. Animals were returned to their mother for nursing. Tumor growth was assessed by survival and histopathology.


RESULTS
Twenty-one percent of the saline-treated animals (17 out of 82) and 5% of the tumor cell-challenged pups (3 out of 60) were eliminated by their mothers. Inoculations with 9L and F98 cells produced brainstem tumors in 83% (24 out of 29) and 93% of animals (26 out of 28) respectively that were evaluated.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results demonstrate that neonatal rat models for brainstem tumors can be prepared using known injection coordinates and orthotopic cell lines. Decreasing rates of maternal removal during the course of the work suggests that the method involves a learning curve.
Jallo
George I
GI
Hunterian Brain Tumor Laboratories, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. gjallo1@jhmi.edu
Penno
Margaret
M
Sukay
Lindsey
L
Liu
Ja Yun
JY
Tyler
Betty
B
Lee
James
J
Carson
Benjamin S
BS
Guarnieri
Michael
M
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D020295:Brain Stem Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002452:Cell Count / Q000379:methods; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors