Embryonic chicken lens cells cultured in reconstituted basement membrane: an experimental model to maintain the epithelial phenotype in culture.
The action of a reconstituted basement membrane has been studied on primary cultures of embryonic lens cells. When a solution of this matrix (Matrigel) was included in the culture medium, a high percentage of cells maintained the epithelial phenotype, judged by electron microscopy criteria, in contrast to the differentiated state induced by serum. Complete matrix stimulated by 6-fold the incorporation of 3H-thymidine into the cells, while one of its defined components, laminin, only had a 2-fold stimulatory effect. Thus, the basement membrane may stimulate mitogenesis and play a role complementary to that of growth factors in development.
Alemany
J
J
Diabetes Branch, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892.
Peralta Soler
A
A
Smith
R M
RM
Roth
J
J
Jarett
L
L
de Pablo
F
F
D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured / Q000187:drug effects; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D008938:Mitosis / Q000187:drug effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D010641:Phenotype; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
D004338:Drug Combinations; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; C059485:matrigel; D003094:Collagen; D013936:Thymidine