Experimental induction of embryo-derived teratomas and teratocarcinomas in mice.

The present study deals with the induction of teratomas and teratocarcinomas in two strains of mice (C3H/Bln and 129/terSv). 6 to 7 days old egg cylinders were transplanted beneath the kidney capsule of adult syngeneic male and female recipients. Out of 115 grafted embryos 32 gave rise to teratoid tumors. Both the overall tumor incidence (teratomas and teratocarcinomas) and the overall percentage of teratocarcinomas were approximately the same in the strains used. In strain C3H/Bln the gender of the recipient seemed to influence the outgrowth of malignant tumors. Two transplantable C3H-teratocarcinomas could be established (DTC-4, DTC-8). Up to date both have retained their pluripotent differentiation pattern which makes them useful for intended further investigations.