[Analyses of chromosomal karyotypes and cytogenetic variations of animal cell lines]

After the master cell stock(mcs) and working cell bank of more than 30 different strains of 7 animal kidney cell lines (F-81 or CRFK cell line, MDCK cell line, Vero or Vero-2 cell line, MA-104 cell line and BHK-21 cell line) were established in China, the chromosomal number variations and structural aberrations of the above lines, primary feline or canine kidney cell (FKC or CKC) and HeLa cell line were investigated and their karyotypes of routine or Giemsa chromosomal bands were analyzed. The carcinogenesis or tumorigenicity testing of these cells in about 700 nude mice and for colony formation in soft agar (SA) and for agglutination under different concentration of plant lectins was carried out. Both tumorigenicity-negative strains of F-81, CRFK, Vero or Vero-2 lines and very-low-tumorigenicity strains of MDCK line were successfully selected and evaluated for the production of canine or feline combination viral vaccines, which are free of infectious agents, and described with respect to cytogenetic characteristics and tumorigenicity. Rate of modal chromosome number represents the ratio of cell number having modal chromosome number to all the split cell number analyzed at random. Rate of difference represents the ratio of difference of the rate of modal chromosome number between mcs (master cell stock) + n and mcs passages. The chromosomal analysis results showed that the ratio of difference of the rate of modal chromosome number between mcs + n and mcs passages was not more than 5%-15% and the structure aberrations was generally 0%-3%, not more than 5%-10%, thus the hereditary character of cell lines is comparatively stable without significant difference between different passages. The genetic characteristics of chromosomal number of cell lines determines their tumorigenicity, but it is species specific. Experimental models were established for the researches on the prevention and prophylaxis of malignant tumors or cancers and their genetically biological characteristics. Tests showed that there was correlation among cell line chromosome number variations, anchorage independence in soft agar, agglutination under plant lectins and tumor-forming ability in nude mice. Since testing in vitro is more economic, simpler, faster, and is thought to be reliable, we recommend plant lectins followed by SA or analysis of karyotypes as the initial means for monitoring tumorigenicity of animal cell line in nude mice.