HISTOPATHOLOGIC STUDIES OF THE EXPERIMENTAL GLIOMAS

Abstract

1. A chemical carcinogen was intracerebrally inoculated in 84 C57Black mice, and gliomas were produced in 6 cases, sarcomas in 19 cases and epidermoid tumor in 1 case.2. Pathologically, the experimental gliomas were classified into 4 glioblastomas, 1 oligodendroglioma-like tumor and 1 astrocytoma-like tumor.3. The experimental gliomas were comprised of atypical glioma cells; and even those simulating human mature glioma showed considerable cell atypia.4. The experimental gliomas were subcutaneously transferable in animals of the same species; the transfer was successful from all the gliomas.5. After serial transfers, the constituent cells of the experimental gliomas lost polymorphism, and came to show uniform cell structure.6. Electron microscopically, the serially transfered gliomas exhibited relatively uniform ultrastructure, and gliofibrils and surface differentiation, which were characteristic for the ultrastructure of astrocytes and ependymal cells, were scarcely seen.7. The histochemical examinations of 2 cases of the serially transfered gliomas revealed strong enzymic activity in succinic dehydrogenase, lactic dehydrogenase aud DPNH diaphorase; and medium enzymic activity in β- hydroxybutyric dehydrogenase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and acid phosphatase. Gliomas showed generally stronger activity of dehydrogenase than sarcoma.8. According to the histochemical examinations of human cerebral tumors, gliomas showed strong enzymic activity of lactic dehydrogenase and DPNH diaphorase in the stroma.9. Out of the experimental gliomas, 2 glioblastomas were subjected to tissue culture. Under the tissue culture, the glioma cells were observed as markedly polymorphic uni-, bi- and multipolar cells.