EXPLANTATION AND SUBCULTURE OF EPITHELIAL-CELLS FROM HUMAN UTERINE ECTOCERVIX

  • 1 January 1980
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 40  (3) , 512-518
Abstract
Human ectocervical explant cultures were grown in medium with D-valine substituted for L-valine. Pure epithelial cell monolayers were obtained with dialyzed and undialyzed fetal calf serum. Epithelial cell explant colonies grown in D-valine medium supplemented with undialyzed serum could routinely be subcultured if plated at a density of 1.5 .times. 104 cells/cm2 or higher. Such cultures could be passaged at least 3 times and could yield up to 21 population doublings per culture lifetime. Contaminating fibroblastic colonies were never detected in these cultures, which were free of surface-associated fibronectin as revealed by immunofluorescent tests. Both primary and passaged epithelial colonies retained many characteristic morphological features of ectocervical epithelium when examined by light microscopy and EM. Such cultures may be of use in investigating the action of viral and chemical carcinogenic agents upon epithelial cells in vitro.