Characterization of a rat yolk sac carcinoma cell line

A continuous cell line was established from an experimentally induced rat yolk sac carcinoma. In the early passages both visceral and parietal yolk sac carcinoma were present (designated L1). When the cell line was reestablished in culture after serial transplantations in rats, only parietal yolk sac carcinoma could be identified (designated L2). This cell line expresses parietal yolk sac endoderm characteristics in that it synthesizes basement membrane components, in particular, laminin, but also entactin, collagen IV, and heparan sulfate proteoglycan. In addition, a noncartilage chondrotin sulfate proteoglycan is synthesized. This rat yolk sac carcinoma cell line L2 will be a valuable model for the study of basement membrane components.