Tumor-bearing Chicks Hatched from Eggs Inoculated with Mouse Carcinoma. ∗

Abstract

Taylor, McAfee, and Taylor 1 state that chicks may hatch from eggs inoculated into the yolk with mouse mammary carcinoma. Using a slightly modified Taylor technic, 2 , 3 fertile eggs were inoculated on the 5th day of incubation with minced, or pressed mammary carcinoma of strain A mice. All materials used came from tumors arising originally in this strain and having a variable number of transfers in the strain. Mouse transfers were done using sterile technic.

Tumor-bearing mice were killed with ether and the skin sterilized with iodine. Separate instruments were used for skin dissection and manipulation of the tumor. Pressed tumors were forced through muslim supported by a drilled, bras plate. Minced tumors were cut with very sharp fine scissors without addition of fluid. In both cases Tyrode solution was then added to give a suspension of about the same density as that used by Taylor.

The shell over the air sac was wetted with 70% alcohol and after drying was cut through with a round dental, burr, turned by a high speed electric hand tool, care being used not to cut through the shell membrane. The membrane was wetted with alcohol and allowed to dry. The membrane was then burned through with a hot, tapering probe large enough to fit tightly into the hole in the shell, thus sterilizing the shell against which the needle subsequently touches.

The suspension was inoculated into the yolk using a tuberculin syringe and a No. 20 needle 11/4 inches in length. The amount of suspension injected varied from 0.1 to 0.6 cc.

All procedures were carried out aseptically. The hole in the shell was sealed with vaseline-paraffin mixture. Eggs were incubated at 38°C.