Culture and characterization of smooth muscle cells from porcine retinal microvessels.
OBJECTIVE
To establish long-term cultures of retinal vascular smooth muscle cells for future studies of their functions under normal and diseased conditions.


METHODS
Smooth muscle cells (SMC) from porcine retinal microvessels were isolated and cultured.


RESULTS
Cells in culture retained the common biochemical characteristics of SMC propagated from other sources. The cells were large, polygonal, spindle shaped and demonstrated the presence of smooth muscle-specific alpha-actin. Post-confluent cultures showed the 'hill and valley' multilayer growth characteristics. However, the growth rate was lower and the population doubling time was significantly larger than those reported for SMC propagated from big vessels.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinal vascular SMC could be cultured separately from other cell types. The availability of this culture provides a unique model for functional and metabolic studies of the retinal vessels.
Lions Eye Institute and Centre for Ophthalmology and Visual Science, The University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Australia. mortimer@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
B C
BC
Mortimer
D Y
DY
Yu
W H
WH
Morgan
V A
VA
Alder
D008841:Actin Cytoskeleton / Q000378:metabolism; D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002469:Cell Separation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019084:Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine
D000199:Actins; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal