[Establishment of an animal model with thymic lymphoma in mice].

The objective of study was to establish an animal model with thymic lymphoma in mice induced by intraperitoneal injection of DNA alkylating agent N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU). Male and female mice of the C57BL/6 strain were injected by the intraperitoneal route with MNU solution in a dosage of 50 mg/kg body weight. The injection was repeated at week 8. Following injection of MNU, the general status of mice was observed. All mice were sacrificed for autopsy at the 22nd experimental week. Complete gross examination was performed for detection of tumor masses. The results showed that at the 22nd week, the incidence of thymic lymphoma in MNU-treated animals was 67.5% (27/40). No significant sex difference in the incidence of thymic lymphoma was observed. In conclusions, an animal model with thymic lymphoma in mice can be established by twice intraperitoneal administration of MNU. The biological behavior of the induced tumors resembles to those of human thymic lymphoma derived from thymic T-cells.