Transformation of cultured rat ovarian surface epithelial cells by Kirsten murine sarcoma virus.

A method is described for the culture of rat ovarian surface epithelial cells, i.e., the cellular component thought to be the source of most ovarian cancers. These cells in culture have a characteristic epithelial morphology which distinguishes them from other ovarian cell types. Cultured surface epithelial cells are histochemically positive for 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase and negative for delta 5-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, the same as in cryostat sections of whole rat ovary. Ultrastructurally, cultured surface epithelial cells have basement membranes, microvilli, and apical intercellular junctions. Kirsten murine sarcoma virus was used to produce three transformed cell lines from pure first-passage cultures of these cells. These three lines retained 17 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity and showed slight delta-3 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase activity. Tumors resulting when these cells were injected s.c. or i.p. into immunosuppressed female rats were highly malignant, resembling histologically human ovarian endometrioid stromal sarcoma. This is the first demonstration of the susceptibility of ovarian surface epithelium to an oncogenic virus.