Flow cytometry analysis of DNA ploidy of transmissible venereal tumors in the Jindo dogs

유식세포 분석법에 의한 진도개 전파성 성기육종의 DNA Ploidy 유형분석

Transmissible venereal tumor(TVT) is a naturally occurring contagious neoplasm which can be transmitted by mechanical contact during mating in dogs and transplanted as intact viable cells to dogs and other members of canine family such as coyotes, jackals, wolves, and foxes. The incidence of this tumors tends to increase in Korean native Jindo dogs. This is probably due to the high density and unrestrained management system. With time, TVT reaches the maximum size and then tends to regress spontaneously unless individuals are immunologically compromised. It consists of different types of cells depending on the stage. In this study, 10 tumors were selected from Jindo dogs. These were histologically calssified into three stages; progressive, steady-state, and regressive. Mitotic figures were counted, and their histological appearance at each stage is compared with their DNA ploidy. Histologically, 5 tumor cases were calssed as the progressors, 3 cases as the steady-state tumors, and 2 cases as regressors. Progressors were composed of round cells with large nuclei containing conspicuous nucleoli and frequent mitotic figures. A few spindle-shaped cells and inflammatory cells including mainly lymphocytes, a few neutrophils and macrophages were also seen. In the steady-state tumors, there was an increased number of spindle shaped cells and mitotic figures were rare. Six tumors were diploid and four were aneuploid with the variation coefficient of 7.02. Two of five progressive tumors were aneuploid. Two of three steady-state tumors were aneuploid while both tumors at the regressive stage were diploid. Progressive and steady-state tumors had a much larger S/G2M fraction and a higher mitotic index than regressive tumors. Two tumors which persisted for more than one year were aneuploid. These results suggest that the progressive and steady-state tumors had more active cell division than the regressive neoplasms.