Immunophenotypic characterization of canine oligodendroglioma cells cultured in an oligodendrocyte precursor cell-tailored medium.

Abstract

Canine oligodendrogliomas express platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha (PDGFRA), an oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) marker. In this study, tumor cells derived from 3 French bulldogs with oligodendroglioma were cultured in conventional medium with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and an OPC-tailored medium containing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AA and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF). Immunocytochemically, cells cultured with 10% FBS were negative for PDGFRA, but tended to express 2',3'-cyclicnucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and β3-tubulin. In contrast, the cells cultured with PDGF-AA and bFGF tended to express PDGFRA. These results suggest that canine oligodendroglioma cells cultured with PDGF-AA and bFGF exhibit OPC-like immunophenotype. Cells cultured with OPC-tailored medium may be useful for further in vitro research on canine oligodendrogliomas.