A highly predictable animal model of retinoblastoma

Summary A new animal model of retinoblastoma was developed in newborn inbred CDF rats by intravitreous inoculation of retinal tumor cells (5×10⁴/5 l) derived from the cultured tumor cell line EXP-5. The retinal tumor from which the cell line originated was induced by a single intravitreous inoculation of human adenovirus serotype 12 (5 l of 10⁸ TCID 50/0.1 ml) in syngeneic rats. Within 1 month after intravitreous moculation of EXP-5 cells, a clinically recognizable ocular tumor was obtained in all 39 rats. Ad 12-specific T-antigens were demonstrated in the cultured tumor cells using immunofluorescent techniques. Morphologically these tumor cells closely resembled retinoblastuma, with poorly differentiated intracytoplasmic organelles, solitary cilia with a 9+0 tubule pattern, and abnormal nuclear membrane associated with a set of basal bodies. The significance of this highly manipulable retinal tumor cell line is the capability of providing a full-fledged intravitreous tumor in 1-month-old CDF rats, whose actual life span is known to be 42 months. Transplantable retinal tumors described to date are reviewed breifly and compared with the presently reported cell line.Supported by USPHS grants EY-CA01667, R01-EY-03171, and P30 EY-01784, by grants from the Retina Research Foundation, Houston, Texas, and by the Massachusetts Lions Eye Research Fund Inc.