title: Growth of cultured porcine retinal pigment epithelial cells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish and characterize cultures of porcine retinal pigment epithelial (pRPE) cells in order to produce confluent monolayers of cells for transplantation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Primary pRPE cell cultures were established. Cell morphology was assessed by phase contrast and electron microscopy. Growth was determined by the crystal violet dye uptake assay. DNA synthesis and content were measured by incorporation of 3H-thymidine and flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  This primary culture resulted in cells with well-preserved morphology that could be propagated in up to six passages. The deterioration observed over time in cultures was not due to a constant high rate of cell turnover as postconfluency cell proliferation was limited. However, a large fraction of the cells had a high DNA content despite a lack of active DNA synthesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The present method yields pRPE cells of high purity and proliferative capacity with preserved epithelial phenotype. However, aberrant DNA profiles and the deterioration of cell morphology observed over time in this graft material represent serious problems in RPE transplantation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark. awiencke@dadlnet.dk
authors.forename: Anne Katrine
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Wiencke
authors.forename: Jens Folke
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Kiilgaard
authors.forename: Jair
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nicolini
authors.forename: Magnus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bundgaard
authors.forename: Carsten
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Röpke
authors.forename: Morten
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: La Cour
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002452:Cell Count; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D017690:Cell Transplantation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D005109:Extracellular Matrix / Q000502:physiology; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D010641:Phenotype; D010857:Pigment Epithelium of Eye / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D013552:Swine
chemical_list: D004247:DNA