Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research

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Quick establishment of nude mouse models of orthotopic osteosarcoma using tissue mass transplantation  

Zhou Bin   

  1. Third Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China
  • Received:2015-09-29 Online:2015-11-30 Published:2015-11-30
  • About author:Zhou Bin, Master, Associate chief physician, Third Department of Orthopedics, Lanzhou University Second Hospital, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu Province, China

Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Construction of animal models of osteosarcoma is difficult, and the progress is slow because osteosarcoma cells are from mesenchymal tissue.
OBJECTIVE: To establish the nude mouse models of orthotopic osteosarcoma using tissue mass transplantation method, observe and evaluate its biological characteristics.
METHODS: Fifteen nude mice aged 6 weeks of SPF grade were selected. The right forelimb armpit of nude mice was injected with the prepared MG-63 osteosarcoma cell suspension. After tumorgenesis, osteosarcoma cells were sub-cultured for 3 generations. When the tumor grew stably, tumor tissue block was transplanted into lower tibial marrow cavity of nude mice and its biological characteristics were evaluated. Tumor-forming rate and tumor characteristics were observed by X-ray, and 5 normal nude mice were taken as controls.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The modeling process in these 15 nude mice went smoothly. After modeling, only one nude mouse failed in tumor induction and the tumor-forming rate was 93%. Tumor-like tissue formation in the lower extremity of nude mice was visible at 3-4 weeks after tissue mass transplantation. After four or five weeks, X-ray observation showed that unobvious osteolytic bone tumor and tumor-like lesions were present in the upper and middle segments of the tibia of nude mice. The expression level of alkaline phosphatase in the osteosarcoma model group was significantly higher than in the control group (P < 0.01). These results show that tissue mass transplantation for modeling orthotopic osteosarcoma in nude mice is simple to operate and has a high tumor-forming rate. The induced tumors grow quickly and exhibit strong destructive power to cortical bone and surrounding soft tissue, which are close to the actual situation of patients with osteosarcoma in the clinic.
 

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