Granular cell brain tumors of the laboratory rat: an immunohistochemical approach

Abstract

We have studied paraffin-embedded specimens of 17 rat granular cell brain tumors (GCBT) from four long-term drug safety carcinogenicity studies by peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunohistochemistry with either polyvalent or monoclonal antibodies against glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), S-100 protein (S-100), Leu-7 epitopes, vimentin (VIM), keratin, desmin, and myelin basic protein. We have found that 9 of the 17 GCBT contained GFAP-positive, S-100-positive, and VIM-positive astrocytes, while GFAP-positive and VIM-positive granular cells were observed in 5 of these 9 tumors. Our findings indicate that astroglial cells are involved in rat GCBT and suggest that an astrocytic origin should be considered for these neoplasms.

Intracranial Granular Cell Tumor in a Dog

“…In rats, GCTs are located in or adjacent to the meninges of the cranial cavity, and the histogenesis has been regarded as a progenitor meningiothelial arachnoid cell because of their anatomic location, and immunohistochemical and/or electron microscopic features [10,11,20]. An astrocytic origin has been postulated based on positive immunohistochemistry for GFAP, vimentin, and S-100 protein [15]. According to the anatomical and pathological features and ultrastructural characteristics, the present case may suggest a mesenchymal or neural nature.…”

“…GCT in the central nervous system (CNS) has been well documented in humans and rats but has seldom been reported in dogs and other animal species [2][3][4][5]7]. In animals, GCTs located in various tissues are most frequently encountered in rats, dogs, and horses [9,15]. In rats, GCT is the most common intracranial tumor [11,15,20], and the brain, meninges, and pituitary gland are the most common sites.…”

“…In animals, GCTs located in various tissues are most frequently encountered in rats, dogs, and horses [9,15]. In rats, GCT is the most common intracranial tumor [11,15,20], and the brain, meninges, and pituitary gland are the most common sites. In dogs, GCT most commonly occurs in the oral cavity, but these tumors have also been reported in atypical locations including the brain, heart, and lymph nodes [9].…”

Morphological and Ultrastructural Study of the Histogenesis of Meningeal Granular Cell Tumors in Rats

“…report for GCTs, implying a derivation from the arachnoid cell (10). However, different evidence in the literature has suggested the Schwann cell (14) or astrocyte (11) as a possible origin of GCTs, thus questioning the suspected correlation between GCTs and MMs.…”

Granular Cell Lesions in the Distal Female Reproductive Tract of Aged Sprague-Dawley Rats

“…17,20,22 Most granular cell tumors are positive with immunohistochemical markers for neuroectodermal origin such as S100 protein and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). 2,3,4,15,16,18 Ultrastructurally, the hallmark of the tumor is the many lysosomal bodies. 6,20 Granular cell tumors are an enigma because no normal cell counterpart is known.…”