Abstract
The Swarm rat chondrosarcoma, a spontaneously derived tumor maintained in Sprague-Dawley rats, was examined for its morphological and biochemical characteristics. The tumor matrix exhibited cartilage-like-staining properties. Cartilage-specific type II collagen was identified intracellularly and following hyaluronidase pretreatment in the extracellular matrix by means of immunofluorescent techniques with antitype II antibodies. Histological studies revealed a multinodular tumor structure. Type I and III collagens were found predominantly in the septa and stroma between the nodules. Various procedures for obtaining the maximal yield of viable cells from the tumor were compared. Under the culture conditions used, primary cell suspensions in short-term culture did not change their phenotypic expression regarding the synthesis of type II collagen. Biologically active polysomes and messenger RNA were isolated from cell suspensions, which proved to be a better source for such macromolecules than was the total tissue. The Swarm rat chondrosarcoma is therefore a useful model system for studying the biosynthesis of type II collagen. A similar methodology could be used to study human tumors. The macromolecular synthetic pattern of malignant sarcomas, particularly the pattern of structural matrix proteins, may provide a more rational classification scheme for these poorly understood human tumors.
Supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.
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