The Induction of Tumours in the Guinea-pig with Methylcholanthrene and Diethylnitrosamine and their Propagation In Vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Tumour induction with diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and methylcholanthrene (MCA) has been studied in 3 strains of guinea-pig. A DEN concentration of 80 μg/ml drinking water daily proved too toxic but reasonable survival was obtained with 20 μg/ml 3 times per week in Hartley guinea-pigs and a local inbred strain. Heston Strain 13 guinea-pigs were particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of the diethylnitrosamine. In all3strains, 100% of the animals which survived the early toxic effects subsequently developed hepatomata, the mean time being 15 months. Methylcholanthrene was less toxic but more erratic as a carcinogen, the incidence of tumours in Hartley guinea-pigs varying from 18 to 100% in different experiments, the mean time of tumour development being 10 months.

Three transplantable hepatomata and 3 transplantable sarcomata have been developed. The hepatomata are all predominantly hepatocellular carcinomata and the sarcomata comprise two liposarcomata and a fibrosarcoma. Successful shortterm primary cultures of hepatomata, sarcomata and of normal liver tissues have been accomplished. Established cell lines in tissue culture have been developed from one cholangiocarcinoma from an outbred guinea-pig and one transplanted hepatocellular carcinoma from an inbred guinea-pig.