CYTOLOGICAL INDIVIDUALITY OF HEPATOMA CELL LINES DERIVED FROM A SINGLE DONRYU RAT

Comparative differences were demonstrated in both cytological and biological characteristics of 12 different cell lines of ascites hepatoma. All these cell lines of ascites hepatoma were derived from isolated hepatoma nodules showing a histologically similar pattern, from the liver of a single female Donryu rat. Each cell line showed individual characteristics in ascitic feature, chromosome constitution, sensitivity to nitrogen mustard or X-ray, as well as in growth rate or invasiveness into the surrounding tissues. Multicentric cell origin of the primary hepatoma and a possible alteration in the cell population during successive transfer generations were discussed from an immunogenetic view-point.