| Abstract |
Brain tumors, composed primarily of differentiated astrocyte like cells,
were induced in rats by weekly injections of 5 mg/kg N-nitrosomethylurea.
Passage of the tumor cells through culture greatly enhanced their ability
to be serially transplanted. Cultures were established by the method of
alternate culture and animal passage. The single-cell plating technique was
used to develop clonal strains from these cultures. The presence of a
highly acidic protein, named S-100, found only in vertebrate brain has
been reported. S-100 has been found serologically in one (C6) of the
clonal strains and not in the other (C3). About 0.2% of the total soluble
protein is S-100 when the cells are in stationary phase. Data pertaining
to the kinetics of S-100 production will be presented. The C6 strain has
been serially cultured for about one year without loss of its ability to
produce the brain specific protein S-100. The cells have a near diploid
chromosome number, and upon subcutaneous injection into rats produce
tumors in approximately 3 weeks. In contrast, the C3 strain does not
produce a tumor. Thus, serially propagated clonal strains of brain. cells
are able to perform at least one organ specific function for prolonged
periods in culture.
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