Effects of calcium ions on hamster cheek pouch epithelium grown in vitro

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Abstract
Epithelial outgrowths from hamster cheek pouch explants were cultured for 14 days in media containing Ca concentrations of 0.05 mM, 0.075 mM, 0.1 mM, 0.25 mM, 0.75 mM or 1.45 mM (control). Compared with controls, the cultures grown at lower Ca concentrations (0.25-0.75 mM), exhibited higher mitotic indices and an increase in outgrowth size. The mitotic index of cultures at 0.25 mM Ca concentration was 30 .+-. 2.26, compared to 24 .+-. 2.24 for controls. Increase in size of the outgrowths was also observed at 0.25 mM Ca concentration compared with those grown in control medium. The epithelial outgrowths grown in control media exhibited cell stratification not observed at lower Ca concentrations. Lower Ca concentration in the media (0.25-0.75 mM) increased epithelial cell proliferation and inhibited keratinization.