The incidence rate of choroidal melanoma in China is second only to retinoblastoma in children, and it is the most common intraocular malignant tumor in adults. The prognosis of tumors is related to the size of the tumor body and the pathological type of tumor cells. The 5-year survival rate of spindle cell type is 84%; The 5-year survival rate of mixed cell type and necrotic type is about 50%; Epithelioid tumor cell types have a 5-year survival rate of less than 30% and the worst prognosis. Animal models of choroidal melanoma can be divided into transplantable models, transgenic models, and inducible models according to their induction mechanisms.
The transplantation model also uses nude mice, and the gene modification model is divided into transgenic and gene knockout mice, with the same mechanism as RB. Injection of nickel sulfide hydride (Ni3S3) into the vitreous cavity of some animals can also induce choroidal melanoma. Nickel is widely present in human work and living environments, and is not only an indispensable trace element for humans, but also has strong carcinogenicity, among which Ni3S3 has the strongest carcinogenicity. The mechanism of nickel induced carcinogenesis includes: inducing mutations leading to abnormal expression of tumor related genes; Inducing cells to produce oxygen free radicals, leading to DNA damage and chromosome breakage; Inducing the expression of NF-KB in cells leads to tumor formation. In addition to directly inducing genomic changes, nickel can also affect the expression of cancer-related genes through epigenetic alterations.
[Modeling Method] Healthy SPF grade rats were selected, and after anesthesia, the eyelids were opened using an eyelid opener. Ni3S3 was injected into the cornea at the 9-point position using a microsyringe. Ni3S3 was prepared as a suspension using physiological saline, with an injection volume of 10 μ l and a concentration of 50mg/ml.
【 Model features 】 Tumors can gradually appear in the vitreous body after 6 to 9 months, and then grow rapidly, filling the eyeball and invading the eye socket. Some model animals can detect liver, lung, and brain metastases. The pathological features are spindle shaped and epithelial cells.
This model is a good model for studying the occurrence of choroidal melanoma caused by chemical substances. Experimental animals and Ni3S3 are inexpensive and easy to obtain. However, animals have smaller eyeballs, and surgical trauma and subsequent pathological changes may lead to modeling failure. In addition, while inducing melanoma, other types of tumors may also be present.