Human Endothelial Cells in Culture

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Abstract
Daily changes of cultured human arterial endothelial cells were observed by phase contrast microscopy, time-lapse microcinematography and EM. By light microscopy the cultured cells are polygonal in shape and form monolayered clusters. They become elongated like fibroblasts between 10 and 14 days. Proliferation of the cultured cells by mitotic division was not recognized by cinematographic observation. Many binculeate cells occurred in the periphery of the cluster throughout the proliferation period suggesting that the cells proliferate by amitotic division. Specific endothelial granules and 2 types of filaments (about 120 .ANG. and 65 .ANG. in diameter) was observed by EM in the cultured endothelial cells. The combined cinematographic and EM observations suggested that the thinner filaments may be contractile elements involved in the movement of the cultured cells.