The localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein in brain tumors induced in hamsters with avian sarcoma virus.

The immunohistochemical localization of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) was studied by the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) method in avian sarcoma virus (ASV)-induced brain tumors in hamsters. One hundred twenty-four tumors including 54 astrocytomas, 64 pleomorphic gliomas, five sarcomas, and one unclassified tumor were stained with anti-GFAP serum. A positive immunostaining was seen in astrocytomas and in pleomorphic gliomas. Sarcomas and an unclassified tumor were negative. These results confirmed that a majority of ASV-induced brain tumors contained neoplastic glial cells, and further suggested that the astrocyte is a main target cell of ASV in the experimental neuro-oncogenesis.