[Human ovarian myosarcoma and its cell culture (author's transl)]

One case of a very rare myosarcoma of ovarium origin was observed and establishment of its cell lines from the fluid obtained by paracentitis was accomplished. This report is on the determination of the tumor and the biological characteristics of its cultured cells. (Determination of the tumor) (1) This tumor was diagnosed as a malignant of the right ovary, using bimanual examination, selective angiography of the uterine artery, ultrasonic tomography, and abdominal ascitic cell examination. (2) The morphological type of tumor was based findings of hematoxylin eosin. Silver, Mallory and phosphotungstic acid hematoxylin stainings. The tumor was diagnosed as an ovarian sarcoma and probably myogenic. However, a clear cross strain could not be demonstrated. (Cell biological characteristics) (1) Morphological characteristics of cultured cells: a) Phase-contrast microscopy and Papanicolaou staining revealed round or short and spindle shaped cells, with markedly enlarged nucleoli. These proliferated without exhibiting any tendency of contact inhibition. Also frequently recognized were giant cells, multinuclear cells, an some bizarre such as a starfish-shaped cell. b) Electron microscopy revealed that bundles of fibrils regarded as myofibrils existed in the cytoplasma, with dense patches within them, but a cross strain could not be demonstrated. (2) Morphological characteristics of the tumor cells grown in a nude mouse: a) The tumor cells demonstrated similarities to the original tissues by of H.E., Silver, and Mallary stainings. b) A number of fibrils recognized by the electron microscopic observation were 100 A in width and were arranged in a concentric circles. In addition to the light microscopic findings, the above findings indicated that this cell line originated from myogenic sarcoma. (3) Biological characteristics of the cultured cells: a) The number of chromosomes varied widely and spread aneuploidically, the highest chromosome number was 76. b) Doubling time, Saturation density, and plating efficiency was 31.2 hr, 1.2 x 10(5)/cm2 and 43.9% respectively. c) These cells had a high sensitivity for trypsin and started morphological change rapidly.