ESTABLISHMENT AND CHARACTERIZATION OF 2 CELL-LINES FROM N-METHYL-N-NITROSOUREA-INDUCED MOUSE GLANDULAR STOMACH CARCINOMAS

We previously reported the induction with N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) of mouse glandular stomach carcinomas showing a gastric phenotype but variation in histologic appearance, as with human gastric carcinomas. In the present study, we established two cell lines, designated MGT-4 0 and MGT-93, from MNU-induced mouse glandular stomach carcinomas. The se cell lines are keratin-positive and grow as epithelial monolayers i n culture, requiring transforming growth factor a, epidermal growth fa ctor or insulin/transferrin for optimal growth in addition to 10% feta l bovine serum. Retention of the differentiated phenotype for gastric surface mucous cells has been confirmed by cathepsin E immunohistochem istry and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction for mouse sp asmolytic polypeptide. Neither transplantability in nude mice nor colo ny formation on soft agar was observed, except in one subline. Chromos ome analysis revealed aneuploidy with modal chromosome numbers ranging from 58 to 78 and no specific structural abnormalities. This is the f irst report of cell lines derived from mouse glandular stomach carcino mas. They should prove useful for studies of the mechanisms of regulat ion of growth and differentiation.