Reorganization of human ovarian adenocarcinoma cells and endometrial adenocarcinoma cells cultured in double-layered floating collagen gels
Tsumura, N.; Kudo, R.; Sawada, N.
Nihon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 38(12): 2157-2170
1986
ISSN/ISBN: 0300-9165 PMID: 3027213 Document Number: 270110
Collagen gels have been used as the substratum for epithelial cell culture to maintain their differentiated states. In this report, we proposed a double-layered floating collagen gel method for the culture of human carcinoma cells to show their differentiated structures which closely resembled those in the tumors in vivo. On the 3rd week of the culture, OMC-1 cells (human ovarian mucinous adenocarcinoma) showed organized ductular structures. PAS-positive substances were seen along the surface of the ductules and also in cytoplasms. Electron microscopically, numerous microvilli were observed at the apical surfaces of the cells, with formation of rootlets. Ishikawa line cells (human well-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma) formed tubular structures with back-to-back arrangements. Electron microscopically, numerous microvilli, well-developed junctional complexes, and well-developed mitochondria and Golgi apparatus were observed, similarly to those in the cells grown in vivo. SNG-M cells (human moderately-differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma) were arranged in sheets with occasional formation of tubular structures. Mitochondria, Golgi apparatus and desmosomes were poorly developed in general; however, the cells forming tubular structures showed signs of cellular differentiation. The floating and non-floating methods were compared with the result that the former method was seen to be far superior to the latter for expressing cellular differentiation.