The formation of histotypic structures from monodisperse fetal rat lung cells cultured on a three-dimensional substrate |
| |
Authors: | William H J Douglas Gary W Moorman Robert W Teel |
| |
Institution: | (1) W. Alton Jones Cell Science Center, Lake Placid, 12946 New York |
| |
Abstract: | Summary Enzymatically dissociated lungs from rat fetuses at 19-days gestation yield single cells which reaggregate to form alveolar-like
structures when cultured on gelatin sponge discs. These structures form within 2 days and have been maintained in vitro for
as long as 6 weeks. They are composed primarily of type II pneumonocytes as characterized by large, lightly stained nuclei
and cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. The lamellar structure of these inclusion bodies has been confirmed by electron microscopy.
The dynamic formation of inclusion bodies is suggested by the presence of lamellar bodies in the extra-cellular space and
the appearance of new inclusions in the cytoplasm of the type II pneumonocytes. The formation and long-term maintenance of
histotypic lung structures in vitro provides a model system for the study of lung development and synthesis of surfactant
by type II alveolar pneumonocytes.
This work was supported by funds from the American Lung Association, National Heart and Lung Institute (grant HL-17110-01)
and the W. Alton Jones Foundation. |
| |
Keywords: | alveolar-like structures type II cells lung cytology surface-active agent |
本文献已被 SpringerLink 等数据库收录! |