[Establishment and characterization of a rabbit tumor cell line VX2].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a rabbit tumor cell line and to characterize its biological parameters.


METHODS
VX2 tumor tissue was used for the primary culture in vitro. After 40 passages, the cell morphology, CK expression (immunohistochemical staining), cell cycle, karyotype and tumorigenecity in rabbits and nude mice were investigated.


RESULTS
The newly established cell line VX2 was maintained in continuous culture for over 70 passages in 10 months. Morphologically, VX2 cells were polygonal to short spindled. Tonal fibril and tight junction were found under the electron microscope. CK was positive. The cell cycle analysis showed 69.3% in G1 phase, 5.6% in G2 phase and 25.1% in S phase. The population doubling time was 34.5 hours. The chromosomal analysis showed a hypotriploidy with a median chromosome number of 58 approximately 62. The tumorigenecity in rabbits and nude mice were both 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The established VX2 cell line derived from rabbit squamous carcinoma could serve as a model system for experimental oncology in the rabbit.
Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Xian-feng
XF
Liu
Le-rong
LR
Ren
Guang-yan
GY
Su
Yu-qin
YQ
Liu
Bei
B
Gu
Ji-hong
JH
Dong
D000818:Animals; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002453:Cell Cycle; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008819:Mice, Nude; D009368:Neoplasm Transplantation; D011123:Polyploidy; D011817:Rabbits
D007633:Keratins