title: Peritoneal sarcomatosis associated with telemetry implants in Sprague Dawley CD rats: a review of eight cases.
abstract: Surgical implantation of radiotelemetric transmitters is a current practice to collect a variety of physiological parameters in unrestrained laboratory animals, and in rodents in particular. In this study, the incidence of peritoneal sarcomatosis arising secondary to surgically implanted telemetry devices (< 15% of implanted Sprague Dawley rats) is considered to represent a significant issue for both animal welfare and data validity in affected animals. Macroscopically, the telemetry-associated fibrosarcomas spread along the visceral and parietal peritoneum and mesentery surrounding abdominal organs. The histologic morphology of these sarcomas was typically an undifferentiated sarcoma, although well-differentiated fibrosarcomas and telangiectatic and pleomorphic variants were noted. Using special stains such as Masson's Trichrome demonstrated a collagenous extracellular matrix in 50% of these rats, which is consistent with a fibroblastic origin. Immunohistochemical studies clearly delineated the mesenchymal components of the sarcomas (fibroblasts and smooth muscle cells); one case, however, was diagnosed as an osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: Pfizer Global Research and Development, Sandwich Laboratories, Sandwich, CT13 9NJ United Kingdom. Ahmed.Shoieb@pfizer.com
authors.forename: Ahmed
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shoieb
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Allavena
authors.forename: Jeremy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Swallow
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Debrue
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015331:Cohort Studies; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic / Q000295:instrumentation; D010537:Peritoneum / Q000473:pathology*; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation*