RG2 glioma growth in rat cerebellum after subdural implantation

The nitrosourea-induced rat glioma clone RG2 was tested for its capacity to form multicellular tumor spheroids (MTS's). Resulting spheroids were investigated by light and electron microscopy with regard to their proliferation patterns and morphological features. Using microsurgical techniques and avoiding mechanical injury of the brain tissue, the authors successfully transplanted avascular MTS's under the dura of the cerebellum, above the vermis, in 43 adult syngeneic Fischer CD rats. The rate of tumor establishment was 93%, and the tumors that were solid and spheroid in shape grew exponentially. Neovascularization could be observed at 3 days after implantation, and invasion of the cerebellum occurred by 3 to 5 days. Neurological deterioration, including ataxia, impairment of walking, and apathy, could be observed after 10 days. The mean survival time was approximately 16 days. The subdural cerebellar tumors were studied by histological techniques, and two morphometric methods were applied to check the growth of implanted spheroids. All tumors were deeply stained with the Evans blue dye-albumin complex, demonstrating disturbance of the blood-brain barrier. The easy accessibility of the cerebellar vermis in rats, the microsurgical implantation of glioma spheroids under the dura avoiding nerve tissue disruption, and the high percentage of reproducible establishment of tumors favor this experimental brain-tumor model. This should be an excellent model for study of experimental therapies.