title: [An improved method of culturing human umbilical vein endothelial cells and its characterization].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To establish a simple and convenient method for the culture of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and study its characterization in vitro.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human Umbilical cord was isolated and digested by collagenase type I,and then it was cultured in 1.5% geltain coated dish with 10% fetal bovine serum(FBS)，heparin sodium andβ-endothelial cell growth factor(β-ECGF) in human endothelial basal growth medium．HUVECs were identified by anti-human factor Ⅷ related antigen and CD31 immunohistochemical staining．
  
  
  RESULTS
  We could successfully culture HUVECs by using this method. HUVECs attached the dish in 24 hours and the confluence was seen in 5 days. HUVECs were generally positive for anti-human factor Ⅷ related antigen and CD31．
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is a fast and effective method to successfully culture purified HUVECs in which collagenase type I was used to digest HUVECs with glass tube connected to T-tube, human endothelial basal growth medium containing 10% FBS,heparin sodium and β-ECGF in 1.5% geltain coated dish.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510060, China.
authors.forename: Shaofen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Huanjiao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Yungang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Xiaoling
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Shibo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D061307:Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells; D006801:Humans; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D014841:von Willebrand Factor
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D014841:von Willebrand Factor