Plexiform structures in malignant schwannomas after prenatal exposure to ethylnitrosourea.

75 Schwann cell tumors were induced in the offspring of Wistar rats which had been treated intraperitoneally with 15 mg/kg b.w. ethylnitrosourea on the 15th day of pregnancy. Plexiform structures characterized by poorly-developed, distorted and bizarre bundles of nerves were seen in 2 of 33 benign tumors, and in 17 of 42 malignant schwannomas. Since when seen in man similar findings are distinctive of neurofibromatosis, it is suggested that this experiment may offer a model for studying non-inherited forms of neurofibromatosis and, more particularly, the malignant changes often associated with this disease.