’Glioblastoma’: Induction of a reproducible autocthonous tumor in rats with murine sarcoma virus

Inoculation of 0.02 ml of high-titer Kirsten strain Murine Sarcoma Virus into the brains of 10-day-old Wistar/Furth rats yields, with 100 percent incidence, a uniform glioblastoma-like tumor within 16 days. Light and electronmicroscopy confirmed the neuroectodermal origin of the parenchymal cells. The remarkable vascular component was studied with extracellular tracers. The permeability of the abnormal endothelium to constituents of the blood vascular compartment was confirmed. Accessory vascular channels, and blood channels devoid of endothelium entirely, were observed. This reproducible system should provide a useful model for further studies of the biology of brain tumors.