Abstract:

Objective   To compare the feasibility of establishment of human hemangioma animal models by cell suspension inoculation and tissue block transplantation. Methods   After obtaining fresh specimens from proliferating infantile hemangioma,we divided them into two halves. Half of the specimens were injected and transplanted into 12 BALB/c nude mice as the tissue block transplantation group and the others were used for hemangioma endothelial cells culture. Passage hemangioma endothelial cells cultured in vitro were injected and transplanted into another 12 BALB/c nude mice as the cell suspension inoculation group. Changes of the tumor were observed for different periods. At day 7, 30and 60, samples were taken from the surviving tumors and examined by HE staining for pathology. Results   At day 7: In the cell suspension inoculation group, the tumor was tiny, soft and grew rapidly with few neoformative vessels. In the tissue block transplantation group, the tumor had merged together with the body and showed a large number of intratumoral vessels. At day 30: In the cell suspension inoculation group, the tumor got larger, harder and remained rapid growth with lots of neoformative vessels. In the tissue block transplantation group, the tumor remained the same size, got harder and showed a mass of inflammatory cells with few vessels left. At day 60: In the cell suspension inoculation group, the tumor had shrunk, got harder and showed decreasing vessels. In the tissue block transplantation group, the tumor was tiny, soft and almost replaced by adipocytes with little transplant left around the vessels. Conclusions   Tissue block transplantation is not appropriate to establish human hemangioma models. In contrast, injection of cultured hemangioma endothelial cells into BALB/c nude mice is a good choice for establishing reliable  human hemangioma models.

Key words: Human hemangioma; BALB/c nude mice; Animal models; Cell suspension inoculation; Tissue block transplantion