[Human melanoma strains transplantable into athymic mice and rats].

Malignant melanoma operative specimens from 3 patients, containing a substantial proportion of melanin as well as the MeWo cell line also containing the pigment, gave rise to human melanoma strains transplanted to nude mice and rats. All the strains demonstrated a rapid decrease in melanin production compared to the original material. The pigment was detectable by electron microscopy alone.