In vitro and in vivo growth of an intraocular retinoblastoma‐like tumour in F‐344 rats

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Abstract
Retinoblastoma‐like cells grew in colonies on the bottom of tissue culture flasks. The population doubling time was 19 h. Tumour cells from cell cultures had a 39% plating efficiency, and fresh tumour cells from intraocular tumours had a 32% plating efficiency in colony forming assays. Inoculation of 1.5 times 104 tumour cells in the vitreous of F‐344 rats resulted in a 100% tumour take and regularly growing tumours with a doubling time of 3 days. The tumour take‐rate was not changed in wholebody immunosuppressed animals. The tumour volume was assessed under a stereo microscope, and it was possible to divide the tumours into 4 groups according to the number of intraocular tumour cells. Tumour growth caused eye perforation in 89% of the inoculated eyes. Spontaneous tumour regression was not seen in non‐perforation groups. Immunosuppression with whole‐body irradiation and dense traumatic cataract had no significant effect on the growth. It is concluded that this animal retinoblastoma‐like tumour is suitable for quantitative therapy studies in vivo and in vitro.