Neoplastic transformation of mouse mammary epithelial cells by in vitro exposure to N-methyl-N-nitrosourea

Journal Article · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1988 · Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.85.2.477· OSTI ID:6201569

Miyamoto, S; Guzman, R C; Osborn, R C; Nandi, S

High-efficiency neoplastic transformation of mouse mammary epithelial cells in primary collagen gel culture was induced by N-methyl-N-nitrosoureau (MNU). Mammary epithelial cells, isolated from virgin BALB/c mice, were embedded within collagen gels and grown in a serum-free medium containing prolactin, progesterone, and linoleic acid. The cells were then treated with MNU on day 3 of culture and subsequently at weekly intervals for up to 4 weeks. Eleven to 14 days after the final carcinogen treatment, the cells were removed from the collagen gels and injected into the cleared mammary fat pads of syngeneic hosts to assay for transformed cell populations. A single exposure or multiple exposures of these cells to MNU was effective in inducing tumorigenic cells that produced palpable tumors as early as 6 weeks after transplantation. Two treatments with MNU were optimal for neoplastic transformation and produced tumors in 79% of the injected fat pads. All the tumors originated at the examination at the site of injection and had extensive central necroses. Histological examination indicated that the tumors were mammary carcinomas. Secondary transplantation of tumor pieces into intact mammary glands produced palpable carcinomas of the same histology within 1-8 weeks. This system provides a distinct means to study the mechanism of mammary neoplastic transformation at cellular and molecular levels.

• Research Organization: Univ. of California, Berkeley (USA)
• OSTI ID: 6201569
• Journal Information: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States), Journal Name: Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.; (United States) Vol. 85:2; ISSN PNASA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ANIMAL TISSUES
ANIMALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BODY
CARBOXYLIC ACIDS
CARCINOGENESIS
CARCINOMAS
CELL TRANSFORMATIONS
COLLAGEN
CYTOLOGICAL TECHNIQUES
DISEASES
EPITHELIUM
GLANDS
GONADOTROPINS
HISTOLOGY
HORMONES
IN VITRO
KETONES
LINOLEIC ACID
LTH
MAMMALS
MAMMARY GLANDS
MICE
MONOCARBOXYLIC ACIDS
NEOPLASMS
NITROSO COMPOUNDS
NITROSOUREAS
ONCOGENIC TRANSFORMATIONS
ORGANIC ACIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANIC NITROGEN COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
PATHOGENESIS
PEPTIDE HORMONES
PITUITARY HORMONES
PREGNANES
PROGESTERONE
PROTEINS
RODENTS
SCLEROPROTEINS
STEROID HORMONES
STEROIDS
TISSUES
VERTEBRATES