Amino acid-rich medium (Leibovitz L-15) enhances and prolongs proliferation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes in the absence of serum.

Multiple rounds of cell division were induced in primary cultured rat hepatocytes in serum-free, modified L-15 medium supplemented with 20 mM NaHCO3 and 10 ng/ml EGF in a 5% CO2/95% air incubator. A 150% increase in cell number and DNA content was observed between day 1 and day 5. The time course of DNA synthesis of hepatocytes cultured in L-15 medium differed from that in DMEM/F12 medium in that there were four peaks of 3H-thymidine incorporation in the L-15 medium, at 60 h, 82 h, 96 h, and 120 h, but only one peak at 48 h in modified DMEM/F12 medium. Labeling studies of the hepatocytes indicated that more than 60% of the cells were stained with antibromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) antibody in the periods of 48-72 h and 72-96 h after plating at densities between 1.5 x 10(5) and 6.0 x 10(5) cells per 35-mm dish. Even at a density of 9.0 x 10(5) cells/dish, about 40% of the cell nuclei were stained with BrdU in the periods of 48-72 h and 72-96 h. In addition, about 20% of the hepatocytes in culture initiated a second round of the cell cycle between 48 and 96 h in culture. Proliferating cells, which were mononucleate with a little cytoplasm, appeared in small clusters or colonies in the culture from day 4. These proliferating cells produced albumin. The addition of essential amino acids to the DMEM/F12 medium enhanced the DNA synthesis of hepatocytes, thus indicating that the higher level of amino acids in L-15 medium may be an important factor in its enhanced ability to support the proliferation of primary cultured rat hepatocytes.     

大鼠大脑皮质神经元原代培养不同培养体系及纯化方法的比较研究

目的:比较两种大鼠大脑皮质神经元的培养及纯化方法不同组合的优劣,探讨科学可靠的神经元培养纯化方法。方法:采用DMEM/F12+血清的有血清培养体系和神经基础培养基(Neurobasal)+B27的无血清培养体系培养原代神经元。在接种3天后分别采用加入阿糖胞苷和5-氟脱氧尿嘧啶两种方法进行神经元的纯化。在1天、3天、7天采用形态学及7天时免疫荧光化学法鉴定神经元的纯度及生长状态。结果:1天、3天时,有血清培养体系和无血清体系中的神经元的形态结构和密度无明显差别,在分别加入阿糖胞苷和5-氟脱氧尿嘧啶后,7天时无血清体系中加阿糖胞苷组细胞密度明显低于其他三组细胞密度。通过免疫荧光化学法鉴定可见无血清体系中的神经元纯度明显高于有血清体系。结论:有血清体系的神经元纯度较差,阿糖胞苷和5-氟脱氧尿嘧啶不能显著抑制胶质细胞等杂细胞的生长。无血清培养体系加阿糖胞苷的神经元细胞受损较多,无血清培养体系加5-氟脱氧尿嘧啶纯化培养的大鼠大脑皮质神经元,纯度较高,细胞数量合适,是体外研究神经系统相关理论的良好模型。     

Cultured aortic smooth muscle cells from newborn and adult rats show distinct cytoskeletal features

It is well known that arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) of adult rats, cultured in a medium containing fetal calf serum (FCS), replicate actively and lose the expression of differentiation markers, such as desmin, smooth muscle (SM) myosin and alpha-SM actin. We report here that compared to freshly isolated cells, primary cultures of SMC from newborn animals show no change in the number of alpha-SM actin containing cells and a less important decrease in the number of desmin and SM myosin containing cells than that seen in primary cultures of SMC from adult animals; moreover, contrary to what is seen in SMC cultured from adult animals, they show an increase of alpha-SM actin mRNA level, alpha-SM actin synthesis and expression per cell. These features are partially maintained at the 5th passage, when the cytoskeletal equipment of adult SMC has further evolved toward dedifferentiation. Cloned newborn rat SMC continue to express alpha-SM actin, desmin and SM myosin at the 5th passage. Thus, newborn SMC maintain, at least in part, the potential to express differentiated features in culture. Heparin has been proposed to control proliferation and differentiation of arterial SMC. When cultured in the presence of heparin, newborn SMC show an increase of alpha-SM actin synthesis and content but no modification of the proportion of alpha-SM actin total (measured by Northern blots) and functional (measured by in vitro translation in a reticulocyte lysate) mRNAs compared to control cells cultured for the same time in FCS containing medium. This suggests that heparin action is exerted at a translational or post-translational level. Cultured newborn rat aortic SMC furnish an in vitro model for the study of several aspects of SMC differentiation and possibly of mechanisms leading to the establishment and prevention of atheromatous plaques.     

人主动脉壁硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养的人主动脉平滑肌细胞生长的影响

从动脉粥样硬化（ＡＳ）高（北京）、低（南宁）发区人正常胸主动脉内－中膜分离ＨＳＰＧ,观察其对体外培养的ＨＡＳＭＣ生长的影响,细胞计数、~３Ｈ－ＴｄＲ参入及形态观察均表明ＡＳ高、低发区人主动脉ＨＳＰＧ都能剂量依赖性地抑制ＨＡＳＭＣ增殖,但抑制百分数未见显著差异,结果提示,人动脉壁中ＨＳＰＧ的含量可能与ＡＳ发病有关．     

人主动脉壁硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖对培养的人主动脉平滑机细胞合成蛋白聚糖的影响

从人正常胸主动脉分离硫酸乙酰肝素蛋白聚糖（ＨＳＰＧ）,观察其对体外培养的人主动脉平滑肌细胞（ＨＡＳＭＣ）合成ＰＧ的影响。ＨＡＳＭＣ在不加（对照）或加ＨＳＰＧ（１９μｇ醛酸／ｍｌ）的￣（３５）Ｓ－硫酸钠培养液中培养,以标记ＰＧ。继之,培养液及细胞层的４ｍｏｌ／Ｌ盐酸胍提取液中的ＰＧｓ经离子交换及凝胶过滤柱层析分离,发现加ＨＳＰＧ后,培养液中的ＨＳＰＧ,硫酸软骨素ＰＧ（ＣＳＰＧ）及硫酸皮肤素－硫酸软骨素ＰＧ（ＤＳＣＳＰＧ）均明显增高,而细胞层中仅ＨＳＰＧ和ＣＳＰＧ增高,且加ＨＳＰＧ后细胞层的ＤＳＣＳＰＧ分子大小有所不同,进一步分析ＤＳＣＳＰＧ中ＤＳ及ＣＳ含量发现加ＨＳＰＧ组ＨＡＳＭＣ细胞层中的ＤＳ％含量略低于对照组。结果提示ＨＳＰＧ可刺激ＨＡＳＭＣ的ＰＧ合成,其可能与血管壁修复及动脉壁脂质沉积有关。     

Effects of soluble factors and extracellular matrix on DNA synthesis and surfactant gene expression in primary cultures of rat alveolar type II cells

Proliferation and differentiation of epithelial cells are thought to be regulated by soluble factors in extracellular fluid and insoluble components of the extracellular matrix. We have examined the combined effects of soluble factors and an extracellular matrix (EHS matrix) on DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, and surfactant protein gene expression in primary cultures of alveolar type II epithelial cells. Cells on EHS matrix cultured in DMEM containing insulin, cholera toxin, EGF, aFGF, 5% rat serum, and 15-fold concentrated bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (D-GM) formed larger aggregates than cells cultured on the same substratum in DMEM containing 5% rat serum (D-5). Cells cultured in D-GM on EHS matrix incorporated more [³H]-thymidine than cells on the same substratum in D-5, with an eight-fold increase seen on day 4 of culture. This increase in [³H]-thymidine incorporation was accompanied by a labeling index of greater than 65% of the cells. Cell counts showed that exposure of type II cells on EHS matrix to D-GM resulted in increased cell number on day 4 of culture. [³H]-thymidine autoradiography combined with immunostaining with anti-cytokeratin, anti-SP-A, and anti-vimentin antibodies demonstrated that the proliferating cells were epithelial cells that contained SP-A. Type II cells cultured on plastic in D-GM also showed increased [³H]-thymidine incorporation compared to cells cultured in D-5. The level of [³H]-thymidine incorporation by cells on plastic, however, was significantly less than that seen in cells cultured in the same medium on EHS matrix. Type II cells cultured on EHS matrix in D-GM had a decreased abundance of mRNAs for SP-A and SP-C than cells cultured on EHS matrix in D-5 as determined by Northern analysis. This inhibition was reversed by switching from D-GM to D-5 on day 4 and culturing the cells for an additional 4 days. In contrast, SP-B mRNA was increased in response to D-GM. This increase was not reversed by switching from D-GM to D-5 on day 4. These results suggest that the interaction of soluble factors and extracellular matrix components has a strong influence on type II cell proliferation, which were partially associated with the reversible inhibition of lung tissue-specific protein mRNAs. Their dynamic interplay among the type II cell, the extracellular matrix, and growth factors may determine multicellular functions and play an important role in normal lung development and in the repair of the lung epithelium following injury.     

Conditions to improve expansion of human mesenchymal stem cells based on rat samples

AIM: To improve the isolation and expansion of human marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) based on rat samples. METHODS: Based on the fact that rat MSCs are relatively easy to obtain from a small aspirate, bone marrow-derived MSCs from rat were cultured and characterized to set up the different protocols used in this study. Then, accordingly, almost the same protocols were performed on human healthy bone marrow samples, after obtaining approval of the ethics committee and gaining informed consent. We used different protocols and culture conditions, including the type of basal media and the culture composition. The MSCs were characterized by immunophenotyping and differentiation. RESULTS: There was no difference in morphology and proliferation capacity between different culture media at the first passage. During the 5-7th passages, the cells gradually lost their morphology and proliferation potential on Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) high glucose and α modified Eagle’s medium. Although the cells expanded rapidly for up to 10 passages on DMEM low glucose containing 10% to 15% fetal calf serum (FCS), their proliferation was arrested without change in morphology and differentiation capacity at the third passage on 5% FCS. Flow cytometric analysis and functional tests confirmed that more than 90% of marrow cells which were isolated and expanded by our selective protocols were MSCs. CONCLUSION: We improved the isolation and expansion of human bone marrow derived MSCs, based on rat sample experiments, for further experimental and clinical use.     

Culture medium enhances semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity

Components of fetal calf serum (FCS) are known to contribute to growth and maintenance of cultured cells. Fetal calf serum supplementation of media also may contribute to the cytotoxicity of other substances to cells grown in vitro. Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) enzyme, present in FCS, metabolizes primary amines and contributes to amine cytotoxicity in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In cell culture experiments, the media used may greatly affect enzymic activities such as SSAO. In these studies, the SSAO activity in FCS, cultured rat aortic VSMC, and rat plasma was determined in the presence and absence of various culture media. Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase activity in FCS (5-20 microl) was significantly enhanced (approximately 1.5- to 2-fold) in the presence of various culture media, with Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM), causing the greatest enhancement. Dulbecco modified Eagle medium enhanced the SSAO activity of cultured VSMC in two of the four passages but reduced activity in two passages. Activity in rat plasma was reduced by approximately 25% in the presence of DMEM. The concentrations of various media components, such as glucose, sodium pyruvate, pyridoxine.HCl, and L-glutamine, were not correlated with enhancement. This study identifies an important enhancement effect of culture media on the FCS enzyme, SSAO, although the media components responsible for the enhancement are yet to be identified.     

Expression of CCAAT/enhancer binding protein C/EBPalpha, beta and delta in rat adipose stromal-vascular cells in vitro.

Stromal-vascular (S-V) cells from rat inguinal fat depots were isolated and cultured in medium containing fetal bovine serum (FBS) and differentiated in defined medium until lipid accumulation was apparent. C/EBPalpha, beta and delta levels were evaluated for different growth conditions and at different times using Western blots. Immediately after isolation C/EBPalpha, beta and delta could not be detected in S-V cells. After seeding for 24 h in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) with FBS, C/EBPalpha, beta and delta could all be detected. Cells at day 1 of culture in insulin, transferrin, triiodothyronine and selenium (ITTS) had increased levels of C/EBPalpha and continued steady high levels to day 6 of culture. Cultures grown in DMEM alone, with no ITTS, showed C/EBPalpha levels similar to ITTS cultures at day 1 and day 3; however, levels diminished after day 3. DMEM cultures also showed lipid accumulation at day 6; however, the number of cells and the amount of lipid cell were reduced from levels observed in ITTS cultures. C/EBPbeta was expressed uniformly throughout the culture period in either DMEM or ITTS cultures while C/EBPdelta expression was higher with DMEM treatment than with ITTS. Treatment of 2 day DMEM cultures with FBS increased levels of C/EBPbeta and delta but significantly reduced levels of C/EBPalpha. Immunocytochemical analysis of S-V cells at day 1 of culture showed a similar percentage of cells stained in DMEM cultures and ITTS cultures. However, by day 6 of culture the percentage of cells staining positively for C/EBPalpha in DMEM had been reduced by one half while in ITTS the percent positive cells remained about the same. Our results indicate that ITTS is not necessary for the induction of C/EBPalpha and accumulation of lipid in S-V cells. However, ITTS is responsible for maintaining C/EBPalpha and enhanced lipid accumulation. Because C/EBPalpha, beta and delta expression occurs very early in cell culture and C/EBPalpha and delta expression continues to increase in DMEM without any apparent inducing agents, our results suggest that these factors may be expressed by the same cells in vivo before being placed in culture. Thus, a large fraction of S-V cells may be further along in the differentiation program than 3T3 cells are when they begin differentiation.     

Macrophage population dynamics within fetal mouse fibroblast cultures derived from C57BL/6, CD-1, CF-1 mice and interleukin-6 and granulocyte colony stimulating factor knockout mice

In vitro models of macrophage growth, differentiation, and function are needed to facilitate the study of their biology as important immune facilitator cells and as frequent targets of bacterial and viral infection. A simple method for the selective expansion and continuous culture of mouse macrophages from primary explant cultures of mouse embryonic tissue is described. Culture in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium (DMEM) low-glucose (1 g/L) formulation (DMEM/L) inhibited fibroblast growth. In contrast, macrophages continued to proliferate in the presence of DMEM/L when in contact with the fibroblasts. Alternating growth in high-glucose DMEM with DMEM/L produced a 1.16- to 2.1-fold increase (depending on mouse strain) in the percentage of macrophages within the cell culture in comparison with culturing in DMEM with high glucose exclusively. Macrophage yields of over 1 million cells/T12.5 flask were achieved by passages 3-4, and, thereafter, declined over the next 5-10 passages. The peak percentage of macrophages within a culture varied depending on the strain of mouse (C57BL/6, CD-1, and CF-1 and two knockout C57BL/6 strains deficient in either interleukin-6 [IL-6] or granulocyte colony stimulating factor [GCSF]). The GCSF (-/-)-derived cultures had the lowest peak macrophage content (30%) and CD-1 the highest content (64.9%). The IL-6 (-/-) and CD-1 cultures appeared to spontaneously transform to create cell lines (IL6MAC and CD1MAC, respectively) that were composed of 50-75% macrophages. The macrophages were phagocytic and were positive for CD14, acetylated low-density lipoprotein receptors, and F4-80 antigen. Light and electron microscopy showed that the cultured macrophages had in vivo-like morphological features, and they could be plated to high purity by differential attachment to petri dishes in serum-free medium.     

培养成年大鼠心肌细胞存活的形态标志

目的：通过探寻增加培养成年大鼠心肌细胞存活率以及防止再分化的方法,揭示培养成年大鼠心肌细胞存活的形态标志。方法：采用Langendorff系统灌流心脏,胶原酶消化法分离成年大鼠心肌细胞,分3组进行细胞培养：①基础培养液＋凋亡抑制剂;②基础培养液＋5%胎牛血清;③基础培养液＋5%胎牛血清＋凋亡抑制剂。结果：①培养前3天杆状心肌细胞比例逐渐降低,无血清培养组比血清培养组降低程度大。培养前3天凋亡率逐渐升高,无血清培养组比血清培养组凋亡率高,加入凋亡抑制剂对凋亡率无影响。②有血清培养2~3天的成年大鼠心肌细胞闰盘部位伸出伪足,促使细胞贴壁生长;当培养至第6天时,细胞侧面也伸展出贴壁的伪足,细胞丧失杆状形态,横纹消失。而无血清培养的细胞无伪足生成,随着培养时间增加,细胞末端变圆钝,横纹变模糊。凋亡抑制剂对伪足形成率无影响。③培养存活的成年大鼠心肌细胞骨架重排,发生再分化。④血清培养组细胞胞内核间距离随着培养时间的增加而减小,无血清培养组则保持不变。结论：成年大鼠心肌细胞培养至第2~3天时,闰盘部位形成伪足是细胞存活的形态标志,加入血清是伪足形成的必要条件。     

In vitro development of bovine embryos in Buffalo rat liver- or bovine oviduct-conditioned medium

A culture system for bovine embryos was developed using Buffalo rat liver cell (BRL) line-conditioned medium without serum. Zygotes, obtained by in vitro maturation and fertilization of oocytes, were cultured either in unconditioned medium (TCM 199 or DMEM/F12) or in the same medium conditioned by bovine oviduct or BRL cells. No serum was added during conditioning or during embryo culture. The DMEM/F12 medium was superior to TCM 199 for development of bovine embryos to the 5 to 8-cell stage: on average between 50 and 57% of the embryos reached this stage after 2 d of culture in DMEM/F12 or in conditioned medium, while 36% reached this stage in TCM 199. Further development to the blastocyst stage was enhanced by conditioning. The highest percentage of blastocysts was achieved in DMEM/F12 medium conditioned with BRL cells (30%). The yield of blastocysts was similar in TCM 199 and in DMEM/F12 media conditioned with bovine oviduct cells (22 versus 20%), but after conditioning with BRL cells, DMEM/F12 medium yielded a higher percentage of blastocysts than TCM 199 (30 versus 18%). This might be explained by the fact that viability of BRL cells was better in DMEM/F12 medium than in TCM 199 when serum was omitted. Blastocysts produced in BRL-conditioned medium had a higher number of cells than blastocysts obtained in bovine oviduct-conditioned medium, and their transfer to recipients led to pregnancies and birth of calves. In conclusion, culture of bovine embryos in DMEM/F12 medium conditioned with BRL cells without serum led to the development of good-quality blastocysts and is thus a promising method for producing embryos for the study of potential embryotrophic factors. The use of rat liver cell lines guarantees against bovine viruses and allows for better production of embryos.     

大鼠细小病毒H-1株培养方法的建立

目的建立用大鼠胶质瘤细胞系（Rat glial cell line C6）替代大鼠原代胚细胞（primary rat embryocells,RE）培养大鼠细小病毒（Toolan virus,H-1）的方法。方法 将0.8 mL H-1病毒接种C6细胞（75T培养瓶,细胞接种量为2×105/mL,培养过夜）,待细胞病变CPE达＋＋～＋＋＋时,用免疫荧光（FITC）鉴定所培养病毒的抗原,用血球凝集试验（HA）测定培养物上清效价,用DNA测序鉴定所培养的病毒,用96孔板培养法测定H-1病毒的TCID50。结果H-1在接种到C6细胞的第3～4天,细胞发生明显的病变,CPE可达＋＋＋＋,FITC鉴定呈H-1抗原阳性,病毒的培养上清中HA效价为1∶320。测序结果表明：该病毒序列与NCBI中H-1序列同源性达99%,确定为H-1病毒。收获的H-1的TCID50为103.2/0.1 mL。结论用大鼠胶质瘤细胞系（C6）可以替代大鼠原代胚细胞（RE）进行大鼠细小病毒的培养。     

Use of synthetic serum-free medium for culture of human dermal fibroblasts to establish an experimental system similar to living dermis

In this study, we sought to establish a defined experimental system for fibroblast growth similar to that of the living dermis. To this end, we evaluated the growth and biochemical characteristics of fibroblasts cultured with serum-free HFDM-1, a finely tuned synthetic medium for human fibroblast culture. Three culture conditions were used to grow fibroblasts obtained from primary culture: (1) culture with Dulbecco’s modified Eagle medium (DMEM) plus 10 % fetal bovine serum (serum-supplemented DMEM), (2) culture with DMEM (serum-free DMEM), and (3) culture with HFDM-1 (HFDM-1), and fibroblast morphology, growth, collagen type I production, and lipid composition were analyzed. Fibroblasts grown in HFDM-1 maintained cell numbers at nearly 100 % from days 14 to 21 and produced more collagen type I than cells grown in serum-supplemented and serum-free DMEM. Arachidonic acid (20:4) and total polyunsaturated fatty acids were lower in cells grown in serum-free DMEM and HFDM-1 than in serum-supplemented DMEM. These results suggested that HFDM-1 recapitulated growth conditions in the dermis better than traditional, serum-supplemented DMEM. In addition, the controlled chemical composition of HFDM-1 eliminated a potential source of variability in cell culture conditions.     

Protein synthesis and secretion and RNA and DNA synthesis in human skin fibroblasts in a medium with a low serum content

Human skin fibroblasts, both postnatal and embryonic, were cultured in the stationary phase of growth for 6-10 days in the DMEM with bovine serum (BS), 0.1-0.5% fetal calf serum (FCS) or 1% human serum (HS). On the day 4 of culturing, a considerable increase was observed in the synthesis and secretion of protein by postnatal fibroblasts in the Eagle medium with 0.1-0.5% FCS, or with 0.5% BS, and in medium 199 with 0.1-0.5 BS, or with 0.1 FCS. Maximum synthesis and secretion of 14C-proline labeled protein was observed on day 2 of culturing of cells in the DMEM medium with 1% HS. In the DMEM medium with low serum content, protein synthesis being virtually unchanged, 75-80% of protein was secreted by cells into the culture medium with BS on days 2-4; in the medium with FCS such a high secretion of protein was observed only on day 4. High synthesis of protein by fetal fibroblasts in the DMEM medium with 0.1% BS and high protein secretion in all the media with 0.1% BS or 0.5% FCS were observed. The maximum level of secretion of protein by fibroblasts coincided with a considerable increase in both RNA and DNA syntheses. The data obtained suggest that cells in deep resting state actively react to the composition of the medium as well as to the quality and quantity of the serum. It may also be suggested that the mechanism of protein secretion has an important role in maintenance of the constant level of intracellular proteins in resting cells.     

Expression of glucose transporters (GLUT 1 and GLUT 4) in primary cultured rat adipocytes: differential evolution with time and chronic insulin effect.

We previously reported that in cultured adipose cell lines insulin increased selectively the expression of Glut 1, in contrast to in vivo regulation where variations in insulinemia have been shown to affect only GLUT 4. We have addressed here the question of the long-term regulation of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 in fat cells by using primary cultures of rat adipocytes. Epididymal fat cells were isolated by collagenase and cultured 4 days in DMEM supplemented with BSA 1%, FCS 1%, and glucose 10 mM. GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 proteins were assessed in total cellular membranes by Western blotting, using specific antibodies against their respective C-terminal peptides. GLUT 1 steadily increased over culture time to reach at day 3, a level 3-fold higher than the initial value. In contrast, GLUT 4 decreased sharply and stabilized at day 3, at 30% of the initial value. The changes in GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 mRNAs with culture time were parallel to changes in the corresponding proteins, suggesting a pre-translational level of regulation. The expression of the lipogenic enzyme, fatty acid synthetase (FAS), highly expressed in fat cell, decreased over time following a pattern closely parallel to that of GLUT 4. Chronic exposure to insulin added at day 2 had no effect on GLUT 4 expression but increased the expression of GLUT 1 and FAS by 70% and 36%, respectively. Glucose consumption was stable over 4 days of culture, while lactate production increased from 24 to 36% of glucose utilization, in agreement with the loss in FAS. Glucose consumption increased only slightly with insulin (+160%), in good keeping with the low levels of expression of both GLUT 4 and FAS in these cultured cells. These data indicate that culture alters oppositely the expression of GLUT 1 and GLUT 4 in rat adipocytes and suggest that factor(s) other than insulin predominate in their regulation in vivo.     

Muscarinic Receptor Expression in the Primary Culture of Tracheal Smooth Muscle Cells

Abstract

Tracheal smooth muscle cells (TSMCs) were isolated from dog trachea in order to analyze the direct effects of growth factors and hormones on cell proliferation and muscarinic receptor (mAchR) expression. Dissection and dissociation of tracheal smooth muscle tissue with a collagenase I, deoxyribonuclease I and elastase IV mixture resulted in high yield and viability of TSMCs. A screen of growth factors, hormones, and serum concentration for the stimulation of cell growth, reveald that insulin-like growth factor, basic fibroblast growth factor, epidermal growth factor, insulin, transferrin, or hydrocortisone alone at the concentration used was not necessary or sufficient to stimulate growth of TSMCs in the primary culture with DMEM/F-12 containing 1% FBS. The regulation of cell surface mAchR expression in response to serum and cell growth in primary culture of TSMCs has been examined. In the presence of 1% serum, TSMCs withdraw from the cell cycle and express high levels of cell surface mAchRs. Exposure of quiescent TSMCs to 10% serum results in a loss of surface mAchRs. In addition, insulin-like growth factor, insulin or transferrin could stimulate the expression of mAchRs on TSMCs cultured in DMEM/F-12 containing 1% FBS. The results demonstrated that low serum concentration culture system may provide a useful model to elucidate the expression of mAchRs in the culture of TSMCs.     

Cultivation of immortalized human hepatocytes HepZ on macroporous CultiSpher G microcarriers

Cultivation of the new immortalized hepatocyte cell line HepZ was performed with a 1:1 mixture of DMEM and Ham's F12 media containing 5% FCS. The cells were grown in their 40th passage in 100 mL and 1 L volumes in spinner flasks and in a bioreactor, respectively. For the production of adherently growing HepZ cells macroporous CultiSpher G gelatin microcarriers were used in various concentrations from 1 to 3 g/L. The cells were seeded in a density of 2 x 10(5) cells/mL when using a microcarrier concentration of 1 g/L and 5 x 10(5) cells/mL at a microcarrier concentration of 3 g/L. After 7 days of cultivation a maximum cell concentration of 4.5 x 10(6) cells/mL was obtained in the spinner culture using a microcarrier concentration of 1 g/L. With bubble-free aeration and daily medium exchange from day 7, 7.1 x 10(6) cells/mL were achieved in the bioreactor using a microcarrier concentration of 3 g/L. The cells exhibited a maximum specific growth rate of 0.84 per day in the spinner system and 1.0 per day in the bioreactor, respectively. During the growth phase the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity rose slightly up to values of 200 U/L. At the end of cultivation the macroporous carriers were completely filled with cells exhibiting a spherical morphology whereas the hepatocytes on the outer surface were flat-shaped. Concerning their metabolic activity the cells predominantly consumed glutamine and glucose. During the growth phase lactate was produced up to 19.3 mM in the spinner culture and up to 9.1 mM in the bioreactor. Maximal oxygen consumption was 1950 nmol/(10(6) cells. day). HepZ cells resisted a 4-day long chilling period at 9.5 degrees C. The cytochrome P450 system was challenged with a pulse of 7 microgram/mL lidocaine at a cell density of 4.5 x 10(6) cells/mL. Five ng/mL monoethylglycinexylidide (MEGX) was generated within 1 day without phenobarbital induction compared to 26 ng/mL after a preceded three day induction period with 50 microgram/mL of phenobarbital indicating hepatic potency. Thus, the new immortalized HepZ cell line, exhibiting primary metabolic functions and appropriate for a mass cell cultivation, suggests its application for a bioartificial liver support system.     

胚胎鼠胃粘膜上皮细胞的原代培养

采用胰酶冷消化法对胚胎鼠胃粘膜上皮细胞进行了培养,细胞培养于含２０％的胎牛血清的ＤＭＥＭ／Ｆ１２的培养液中,种植２４ｈ后开始生长,３ｄ长成片状,相差显微镜下观察９０％的细胞具有上皮细胞特征。免疫细胞化学显示：（ａ）９０％的细胞上皮角蛋白染色阳性;（ｂ）９０％的上皮细胞ＰＡＳ染色阳性;（ｃ）２０％的上皮细胞琥珀酸脱氢酶（ＳＤＨ）染色阳性。透射电镜可见微绒毛、连接复合物（紧密连接,桥粒）、丰富的糖原、线粒体。放射自显影结果表明：上皮细胞具有合成ＤＮＡ的能力,而且在培养２ｄ时增殖能力最强。本实验为研究胃粘膜的功能提供了较好的方法。