CYTOLOGIC AND TISSUE-CULTURE CHARACTERISTICS OF ASBESTOS-INDUCED MESOTHELIOMA IN RATS

  • 1 January 1984
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 28  (2) , 185-189
Abstract
Mesotheliomas were induced in rats by the intrapleural injection of Western Australia crocidolite asbestos. Over a 2 yr period, 10 of 18 animals in which implants were established developed mesotheliomas, for a 56% success rate. Histologically, most mesotheliomas were biphasic although predominantly spindle celled. Pleural fluid was examined in 5 of these malignant cases: 3 had a papillary epithelial picture, 1 had mainly anaplastic cells and 1 contained predominantly spindle-shaped cells. Three types of cell aggregates occurred: classical collagen-containing papillary clusters, spindle-cell aggregates and cystlike spheres. These last structures corresponded to microcystic or adenomatoid growth present in 4 mesotheliomas. Two of the effusions were cultured successfully; the growth pattern was typically mesothelial, with in vitro production of collagen. Ultrastructurally, long, slender microvilli, cell junctions and intermediate filaments confirmed the mesothelial nature of these asbestos-induced rat malignancies.