Homo- and Heterotransplantation of Tumors Induced in Amphibians

Abstract

Tumors were induced by methylcholanthrene in newts (Triturus cristatus) and transplanted serially into other newts of the same species, and of a different genus (Pleurodeles) and into anurans (Xenopus laevis). In total 172 homo- and 75 heterotransplantations were performed. The tumor took in a high percentage (80%), both in the cases of homografts and of heterografts, and gave metastases in the spleen, liver, heart, kidneys, brain, etc., respectively in the 53% and in the 67% of the cases. The site of implantation of the tumor, the anterior chamber of the eye and the subcutaneous tissue, affected the percentage of the taking, the grafts in the eye being positive in 80% of the cases, whereas subcutaneously 64% of the homografts and 54% of the heterografts were successfull. The morphology of the tumor remained unchanged throughout the passages in urodeles, but showed the characteristics of the host cells, (i.e. small dimensions and large nucleoli) when passed to the anurans.