OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of silks on attachment, shape and function of chondrocytes cultured in vitro. METHODS: The silks from silk worm cocoons were digested by trypsin and coated with polylactic acid to from three dimensional scaffolds for rabbit rib chondrocyte culture. The growth and shape of chondrocytes were observed with phase contrast microscopy, scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS: The chondrocytes were adhered to silks slowly after chondrocytes were seeded into silk scaffolds and cells fixed on silks well 1 or 2 days later. Cells began to proliferate after 3 days and multiplicative growth was observed on the 6th day. Microholes of silk scaffolds were filled with chondrocytes 2 weeks later. Scanning electron microscopy showed that there was a lot of extracellular matrix surrounding cells. CONCLUSION: Silks are ideal for attachment, growth and function maintenance of chondrocytes, and silks can be used as scaffolds for chondrocytes in three dimensional culture.
Objective To culture astrocytes of human optic nerve and establish the cell lines for further study of healing process after optic nerve trauma. Methods Astrocytes of infantile optic nerve were cultured by tissue inoculation or tissue digestion with 0.25 % trypsin and 0.06% EDTA. The second and fourth passage cells were stained with HE and anti-GFAP, S-100 protein, vimentin, and CD34 antibodies. Results The trypsinized astrocytes of infantile optic nerver eached confluence in 7 days. The cultured cells were in polygonal shape with processes and the cytoplasm was abundant. These cells were positive in GFAP, S-100 protein and vimentin staining, and negative in CD34 staining. Conclusions Astrocytes of human optic nerve can be successfully cultured by trypsinization rather than tissue inoculation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis, 2001,17:144-146)
【Abstract】ObjectiveTo establish an efficient, effective hepatocyte isolation technique in order to increase cell production and decrease the prime cost. Methods The inferior vena cava below diaphragm was dissected and ligatured, and the inferior vena cava below liver was separated. Subsequently, the liver was perfused with EGTA through the portal vein while the inferior vena cava below liver was opened, and then the liver was harvested. The liver tissue was cut into 1 mm×1 mm×1 mm and digested at 37 ℃ water bath with Ⅳ collagenase for 30-40 minutes, then the hepatocytes were purified and cultured in CO2 incubator. The production and function of hepatocytes were assessed. ResultsThe isolated hepatocytes using this technique were more than 95% among the all isolated cells. No statistic difference was found in cell production and cell function comparing with traditional technique. But this technique was simplified and more economically. ConclusionThis modified hepatocyte isolation technique is efficient and effective. It can ensure the amount of production and purity of hepatocytes.
Objective To observe the effects of culture medium of amniotic cells on NO and NOS in retinal tissues of rabbits in vitro in order to provide a protective method for antioxidation in retina transplantation. Methods Thirty adult healthy rabbits (30 right eyes) were divided into 3 groups. Group I: fresh retinal tissue; group II: routine culture medium; group III: culture medium of amniotic cells. The retinal tissues in group II and III were cultured in the corresponding culture medium for 1 week. The content of NO and NOS in retinal tissues in the 3 groups were determined. Results Compared with group I, the content of NO and NOS of group II increased obviously (t=3.821, 3.854; P＜0.001). There was no statistical difference of content of NO and NOS between group I and III (t=1.657, 1.745; P＞0.05). Conclusion Culture medium of amniotic cells may remove free radicals and enhance the ability of antioxidation. (Chin J Ocul Fundus Dis，2004，20：366-368)
Objective To determine whether the transforminggrowth factor β1 (TGF-β1) is a key regulatory molecule required for an increase or a balance of extracellular matrix (ECM) and DNA synthesis in the goat passaged nucleus pulposus (NP) cells. Methods The NP cells isolated from the goat intervertebral discs were cultured in vitro for a serial of passages and transfected with the replicationincompetent adenoviral vectors carrying the human TGF-β1 (hTGF-β1) or lacZ genes. Then, they were cultured in monolayer or alginate bead 3dimensional (3-D) systems for 10 days.The changes in the production and the molecular components of ECM that occurredin the NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 or the controls were evaluated by Westernblot and absorbance of glycosaminoglycan (GAG)-Alcian Blue complexes. Differences of DNA synthesis in the variant cells and culture systems were assessed by fluorometric analysis of the DNA content. ResultsA quantitation in the variant culture systems indicated that in monolayers the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 had a much higher cell viability and more DNA synthesis(P＜0.05); however, in the alginate 3-D culture system, the NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 did not have any significant difference from the controls(P＞0.05). The Western blotting analysis ofthe protein sample isolated from the variant cells for TGF-β1, type Ⅱ collagen, and Aggrecan expression indicated that in the monolayers and alginate 3-D culture systems the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 revealed much higher protein levels than the controls(P＜0.05)； whereas the type Ⅰcollagen content was much lower than the controls (P＜0.05), but a significatly increased ratio of type Ⅱ/type Ⅰ collagen was found in both of the cell culture systems(P＜0.05). The GAG quantification also showed a positive result in both the cell culture systems and the NP cells at Passage 3 transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 had a much higher GAG content than the controls(P＜0.05). Conclusion To a greaterextent, hTGF-β1 can play a key role in maintaining the phenotype of the NP cells and can still have an effect of the phenotypic modulation after a serial of the cell passages. The NP cells that are genetically manipulated to express hTGF-β1 have a promising effect on the restoration of the intervertebral disc defects. The NP cells transfected with Ad/hTGF-β1 cultured in the 3-D alginate bead systems can show a nearly native phenotype.
Objective Dermal papillae cells are widely applied to reconstruction of tissue engineered hair foll icle and skin. To investigate the difference of the biological characteristics of dermal papillae cells cultured with keratinocyte medium (KM)and normal medium (NM), and to determin whether it is feasible for the reconstruction of tissue engineered hair foll icle using dermal papillae cells cultured in KM. Methods Scalp samples were obtained in rhytidectomy procedure. Dermal papillaes were isolated by two steps digestive treatment, then cultured with KM and NM in two groups. The time of dermal papillae adherence and cell outgrowth was recorded and the rate of dermal papillae adherence was determined after 5 days. As well as, the difference of cell morphology was observed through inverted phase contrast microscope. The maximum generations were determined in two groups and the cell sheets were observed by HE staining. In third-generation cells, the number of aggregates in every dish and the prol iferation by MTT were compared between two groups. Meanwhile, the expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and ALP were detected by immunofluorescence and specific staining in two groups. Results Dermal papillaes of KM group had a higher rate of adherence and fast outgrowth. The rates of adherence were 54.17% and 36.78% in KM group and in NM group, respectively. In KM group, cells adhered after 24 hours and outgrew after 64 hours. While, cells adhered after 48 hours and outgrew after 80 hours in NM group. The cells were bigger in NM group than in KM group. In third-generation cells, 3.06 ± 1.12 and 9.25 ± 1.73 aggregates formed in NM group and KM group, respectively, the difference was significant (P lt; 0.05). In addition, cells could form cell sheets which were muti-layers in KM group. Mostly 7 and 15 generations could been subcultured in NMgroup and KM group, respectively. The result of MTT indicated that cells prol iferated more actively in KM group; absorbance value of KM group was significantly higher than that of NM group after 7 days (P lt; 0.05). The positive of α-SMA were detected in the third-generation cells of both groups. Ocassionally a l ittle few cells expressed ALP with (987 ± 146) m2 positive area in the sixth-generation cells of NM group. However, the cells still expressed ALP with (8 757 ± 558) μm2 positive area in the fourteenthgeneration cells of KM group and the difference was significant (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion Cells proliferate actively and aggregate obviously and could been subcultured more generations in KM. Therefore, culturing dermal papillae cells with KM is feasible for the reconstruction of tissue engineered hair foll icle.
Objective To investigate the way to culture human parathyroid cells and to investigate its secretory function. Methods After digested by collagenase, parathyroid cells were isolated to get the original generation cells, then the cells were cultured and passaged, and morphological changes of original generation cells and passage cells were observed on every day. The parathyroid hormone(PTH) level secreted by the original generation cells and passage cells were measured on the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, and 20th day(original generation cells only) respectively. Results The cellular morphology was complete after digestion. On the 2nd day, most of the parathyroid cells had adhered and spreaded, on the 3rd day, all cells had spread. There was no very obvious changes on these cells after cultured for 4-15 days. From 16 to 20 days, some parathyroid cells went senescence. On the 1st day, all of the passage cells, which were fusiform and little bigger than those of the original generation cells, had adhered and spreaded. From 2 to 15 days, there was no very obvious changes. The concentration of PTH in original generation cells begin to decreased significantly on the 10th day (P < 0.01). The concentration of PTH in passage cells were all lower than those of original generation cells at the same corresponding time, but there were no significant difference on the PTH level on 5th day and 1st day, 10th day and 5th day, 15th day and 10th day in passage cells (P > 0.05). Conclusion Parathyroid cells which were cultured within 10 days possess well morphologic structure and have the strongest secretory function. Although the passage cells still possess secretory function, it is greatly inferior to original generation cells. At last, we consider that original generation cells cultured within 10 days can be regarded as the source of allogeneic cell transplantation.
The osteogenc potential of bone marrow has been proved by experiment. To investigate more in details, bone marrow was obtained from the trochanteric region of femur of NewZealand rabbit in 4 to 8 weeks old. After being cultured in vitro for one week, the hematopoietic component of the bone marrow had disappeared, thus the stromal cells were obtained. Then the stromal cells were subcultured in cultural fluid containing dexamethasone (10-8 mol/L) and natrium glycerophosphate (10mmol/L). Under the phasecontrast microscope, it was found that being cultured for 15 days. The stromal cells were lined up in one layer and late the secretion activity was increased and gradually transformed into multilayer structure and was congregated into diffused opaque clusters in twenty days. During culture, the cells were examined by tetracycline fluorescence label, histochemistry stains, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The results showed that the morphological and biological characteristics of the cultured stromal cells derived from the bone marrow were similiar to those of osteoblasts and could synthesized mineralized new bone tissue in vitro.
Objective To isolate neural stem cells (NSCs) from rabbit retina and brain, and induce differentiation of those NSCs using different culture media. Methods Single-cell suspensions of retina and cerebral cortex were prepared from rabbit embryo, cultured in 5 types of different media to isolate the NSCs by continual passages. After 3 passages, NSCs were induced to differentiation in 2 types of different media for 8 to 10 days. NSCs and inducedretinal cells were examined by immunofluorescence and flow cytometry for the expression pattern of some specific antigens.Results Immunofluorescence showed that NSCs from retina and brain, cultured in serumfree media, both expressed Nestin partially. Flow cytometry showed that Nestin positive cells were significantly decreased while the Rhodopsin and Thy1.1 positive cells were increased after induction. Compared with the combined induction of alltrans retinoid acid (ATRA) and serum, 5%FBS (fetal bovine serum) led to higher expression of Rhodopsin（P＜0.01），but lower expression of Thy1.1（P=0.01）.Conclusion Serumfree media with N2, EGF, bFGF, LIF is the best for NSCs purification. Both induciton media can induce NSCs to differentiate.Retina NSCs have higher potentials to differentiate into retinal neuroepithelial cells than brain NSCs.
Objective To develop a reliable method for primary culture of normal human peritoneal mesothelial cells. Methods Human peritoneal mesothelial cells were dissociated by a mixture of pancreatin and ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid with a magnetic puddler. Inverted phase contrast microscope was used to observe the morphological structures of cells, approximate process of growth. Calretinin was used to identify the mesothelial cells. Results On the 4th d of culture, mesothelial cells adhered to the culture dish. After day 14, mesothelial cells confluenced gradually and grew well like the slabstone. Calretinin was positively expressed by mesothelial cells after 5 d of cultivation. The mesothelial cell population of subculture was less than that of the primary culture. Conclusion A reliable method for primary culture of normal human peritoneal mesothelial cells has been successfully developed, by which sufficient amount of highly purified normal human peritoneal mesothelial cells can be obtained.