The induction and transplantation of hepatomas in Wistar and BD IX rats

Hepatomas were induced by feeding rats laboratory chow containing 0,6375 g of 3'-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene per kg for 3 to 5 months. DAB-1 was a hepatoma induced in randomly bred Wistar rats and was transplanted for 3 years after which it failed to grow in vivo but not in vitro. DAB-2 and DAB-3 are new transplantable hepatoma lines established in highly inbred DBIX rats. DAB-3 has a metaplastic morphology showing, inter alia, goblet cells, cartilagenous areas, duct-like structures and glandular follicles. This is unlike DAB-1 and DAB-2 which showed poorly differentiated trabecular or anaplastic carcinomatous patterns.