Insulin, transforming growth factors, and substrates modulate growth of guinea pig pancreatic duct cells in vitro.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known of the physiological mechanisms that control cellular renewal in the pancreatic excretory duct system. This study investigated the effects of potential regulatory substances on the growth of cultured guinea pig pancreatic duct epithelial monolayers.


METHODS
Pancreatic duct explants were cultured for 3 days on plastic and on permeable filters in the presence and absence of different substances. Growth of epithelial monolayers from these explants was measured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation and morphometric procedures.


RESULTS
Epidermal growth factor and insulin both enhanced monolayer growth and together had an additive effect. Transforming growth factor alpha enhanced and transforming growth factor beta inhibited growth, whereas glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, secretin, cerulein, bombesin, and dexamethasone had no significant effects. Monolayer growth on type 1 collagen-coated filters was enhanced when compared with that of monolayers grown on tissue culture plastic. Cell growth from explants on filters coated with type IV collagen and fibronectin was comparable with that on plastic, whereas growth on Matrigel- or laminin-coated filters was reduced.


CONCLUSIONS
Insulin, transforming growth factors, and substrate components modulate growth of pancreatic duct epithelial cells in vitro, suggesting that they are important regulators of cell division in the excretory duct system of the intact pancreas.
Bhattacharyya
E
E
Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, USA.
Panchal
A
A
Wilkins
T J
TJ
de Ondarza
J
J
Hootman
S R
SR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D003470:Culture Media / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D004847:Epithelial Cells; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010183:Pancreatic Ducts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D011509:Proteoglycans / Q000494:pharmacology; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000494:pharmacology; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*
D003470:Culture Media; D004338:Drug Combinations; D007328:Insulin; D007797:Laminin; D011509:Proteoglycans; D016211:Transforming Growth Factor alpha; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C059485:matrigel; D004815:Epidermal Growth Factor; D015291:Transforming Growth Factors; D003094:Collagen; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine