Basis for the acquisition of malignant potential by mouse cells cultivated in vitro

Science. 1968 Nov 29;162(3857):1024-6. doi: 10.1126/science.162.3857.1024.

Abstract

Balb/c mouse embryo lines maintained in culture for over 200 generations under conditions that minimize cell-cell contact do not become tumorigenic. Lines cultivated under conditions where there is extensive cell contact become tumor-producing within 30 generations. The tissue-culture property that correlates best with tumorigenicity is the loss of contact inhibition of cell division.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Animals, Newborn
  • Cell Biology*
  • Cell Division
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
  • Contact Inhibition
  • Culture Techniques*
  • Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral
  • Embryo, Mammalian / cytology
  • Mice
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / etiology*
  • Simian virus 40 / pathogenicity*