Objective: To establish rat C6 brain-tumor models and find a simple reliable index to judge tumor volume.
Methods: C6 cell suspension (10 microl) containing 10 g/L agarose and 1 x 10(6) cells was injected into the right caudate nucleus of the rat brain by a stereotaxic method. After implantation, rats were observed and given MRI scans. Rats were perfused with paraformaldehyde trans-aorta at the 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th day and before natural death. All brains, lungs, spinal cords and tumors were sectioned and inspected. Tumor-containing samples were prepared histologically by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stains.
Results: Fifty implanted rats had 100% yield of intracerebral growth, with distant metastasis of 0% to 4%.
Conclusion: A rat C6 brain-tumor model was successfully established. Rat survival time is correlated with tumor volume and may be useful as an index of tumor size.