Cytogenetic analysis of a benzpyrene induced osteosarcoma in the rat (Rattus norvegicus)

A cytogenetic comparison of primary and transplant tumor cell-lines, both originating from a benzpyrene induced osteosarcoma, with normal rat cell-lines (Rattus norvegicus) is presented here. In all tumor cell-lines tested, the number of chromosomes was increased by one or two. Using Giemsa-banding, structural chromosomal changes, i.e. a Robertsonian translocation t(4;4)(q10;q10) and an interstitial deletion del(6)(q11q16) could be recorded. Furthermore, staining of nucleolus organizer regions (NORs) revealed a shift in NOR activity from chromosome number 11 to 12 and a decrease in NOR activity at chromosome number 3.