Experimental Heterotransplantation of Detroit-6/VA/Carcinomatous Cells into the Eyeball of Hypercholesterolemia Rabbits

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to detect a possible correlation between a cholesterol-rich diet and growth of the tumor transplanted into the eye. However, data were not available regarding the heterotransplantation of neoplastic cells into the eye under conditions of hypercholesterolemia. Experiments were carried out in 14 rabbits out of which nine animals received 1 g cholesterol daily during four months, and five animals served as control group. At the onset of the experiment, a suspension of Detroit-6/VA/cells was inoculated into the left eyeball (0.2 ml into the anterior chamber, 0.5 ml into the vitreous body). The right eyeball served as control. Five inoculated animals were not fed with cholesterol. Serum cholesterol averaged to 551 mg%. The presence of tumors was established by ophthalmologic and histologic examinations. The dimensions of the tumors were larger (6.5–11 mm) in the hypercholesterolemic animals than in the controls (3.5–6 mm). The structure of the tumor was not quite identical to that of the original one (group I, II). The potential of malignancy of the tumor is decreased probably due to the transplantation. A lympho-plasmacytic peritumorous infiltration was observed in both groups. As a consequence of the cellular defense-reaction of the host organism it seems that the partial blocking of the mononuclear phagocytic system by lipids does not influence the defense-reaction of the organism (group I). No metastases were found in organs. In cholesterol-fed animals, the cholesterol content of the eyeballs increased (6.51% in the right and 5.16% in the left). This significant difference could be explained by the presence of tumor in the left eyeball. In cholesterol-fed animals, a significant difference between the protein content of the left (0.62%) and right (0.57%) eyeball was observed. In the control group, there was no difference between right and left eyeballs.