Neoplastic transformation of fetal rat brain cells in culture after exposure to ethylnitrosourea in vivo. 1975

O D Laerum, and M F Rajewsky

A single, transplacental pulse of N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU; 75 mug/g body wt) to the fetal (18th day of gestation) BD IX rat led to death with malignant tumors of the central and peripheral nervous system after a median time of approximately 195 days. In contrast to untreated control cells, dissociated brain cells transferred to long-term cell culture 20-90 hours after the ENU pulse became tumorigenic after approximately 200 days, as assayed by reimplantation into baby BD IX rats. This was preceded by a characteristic sequence of phenotypic alterations (termed "stages I-IV"). During early primary culture (stage I), both ENU and control cultures exhibited stationary glia-like cells on a growing layer of epithelioid (possibly glia precursors) and few fibroblast-like cells. Stage II (approximately 10th-40th day) was characterized by a constant proportion of glia-like cells in the ENU cultures and by their disappearance in the controls. During stage III (approximately 40th-100th day), slowly proliferating glia-like cells in the ENU cultures formed "piled-up" foci. They could then be removed from the underlying cell layer and cultured separately. Transition to stage IV (approximately 100th-200th day) was marked by proliferation of morphologically altered cells, which subsequently acquired the capacity of form colonies in semisolid agar and finally became tumorigenic (stage V). This system may represent a model for the study of malignant transformation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008954 Models, Biological Theoretical representations that simulate the behavior or activity of biological processes or diseases. For disease models in living animals, DISEASE MODELS, ANIMAL is available. Biological models include the use of mathematical equations, computers, and other electronic equipment. Biological Model,Biological Models,Model, Biological,Models, Biologic,Biologic Model,Biologic Models,Model, Biologic
D009374 Neoplasms, Experimental Experimentally induced new abnormal growth of TISSUES in animals to provide models for studying human neoplasms. Experimental Neoplasms,Experimental Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Experimental
D009607 Nitrosourea Compounds A class of compounds in which the core molecule is R-NO, where R is UREA. Compounds, Nitrosourea
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D001921 Brain The part of CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM that is contained within the skull (CRANIUM). Arising from the NEURAL TUBE, the embryonic brain is comprised of three major parts including PROSENCEPHALON (the forebrain); MESENCEPHALON (the midbrain); and RHOMBENCEPHALON (the hindbrain). The developed brain consists of CEREBRUM; CEREBELLUM; and other structures in the BRAIN STEM. Encephalon
D001932 Brain Neoplasms Neoplasms of the intracranial components of the central nervous system, including the cerebral hemispheres, basal ganglia, hypothalamus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum. Brain neoplasms are subdivided into primary (originating from brain tissue) and secondary (i.e., metastatic) forms. Primary neoplasms are subdivided into benign and malignant forms. In general, brain tumors may also be classified by age of onset, histologic type, or presenting location in the brain. Brain Cancer,Brain Metastases,Brain Tumors,Cancer of Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Tumors,Neoplasms, Intracranial,Benign Neoplasms, Brain,Brain Neoplasm, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Benign,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Malignant, Primary,Brain Neoplasms, Primary Malignant,Brain Tumor, Primary,Brain Tumor, Recurrent,Cancer of the Brain,Intracranial Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasms, Brain,Malignant Primary Brain Neoplasms,Neoplasms, Brain,Neoplasms, Brain, Benign,Neoplasms, Brain, Malignant,Neoplasms, Brain, Primary,Primary Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Primary Malignant Brain Tumors,Benign Brain Neoplasm,Benign Brain Neoplasms,Benign Neoplasm, Brain,Brain Benign Neoplasm,Brain Benign Neoplasms,Brain Cancers,Brain Malignant Neoplasm,Brain Malignant Neoplasms,Brain Metastase,Brain Neoplasm,Brain Neoplasm, Benign,Brain Neoplasm, Malignant,Brain Neoplasms, Primary,Brain Tumor,Brain Tumors, Recurrent,Cancer, Brain,Intracranial Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasm,Malignant Brain Neoplasms,Malignant Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Brain,Neoplasm, Intracranial,Primary Brain Neoplasm,Primary Brain Tumor,Primary Brain Tumors,Recurrent Brain Tumor,Recurrent Brain Tumors,Tumor, Brain
D002471 Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill. Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D002478 Cells, Cultured Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others. Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D005038 Ethylnitrosourea A nitrosourea compound with alkylating, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties. Nitrosoethylurea,N-Ethyl-N-nitrosourea,N Ethyl N nitrosourea
D005260 Female Females

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