Characterisation of epithelial cell line from rat cornea.
OBJECTIVE
Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells, newly established rat corneal epithelial cell line.


METHODS
Morphology of RtCE-1 cells was characterised by light and electron microscopy. Expression of cytokeratins was studied by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and Western blotting. Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells also included karyotype analysis and in vitro study of growth kinetics.


RESULTS
The line shows morphological similarities to normal corneal epithelium. The cells express cornea-specific cytokeratins. Karyotype analysis revealed that the cells are polyploid with modal number of chromosomes at passage 30 equalling 72 +/- 14. Growth of the line is partially dependent on EGF.


CONCLUSIONS
RtCE-1 cells may constitute a model for the evaluation of proliferation, function and differentiation of corneal epithelium in vitro.
Jóźwiak
J
J
Department of Histology and Embryology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. yaro@ib.amwaw.edu.pl
Skopiński
P
P
Komar
A
A
Wójcik
A
A
Malejczyk
J
J
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002455:Cell Division; D002460:Cell Line / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003470:Culture Media; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D019573:Epithelium, Corneal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007621:Karyotyping; D007633:Keratins / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D003470:Culture Media; D007633:Keratins