Morphologic Plasticity and Periodicity: Porcine Cerebral Microvascular Cells in Culture
Abstract
Porcine cerebral microvascular (PCMV) endothelial cell cultures and pericyte-endothelial cell cocultures were established and the self- organizational properties of the cells were examined in various culture conditions. Cultured PCMV endothelial cells were characterized by the capacity to produce prostacyclin in response to bradykinin. Cultured PCMV pericytes were identified with a smooth muscle actin-specific stain. PCMV endothelial cells organized into cord structures when left in culture for several weeks without passage. Lumina were observed in cross sections of these cords and appeared to form through a process of cell-selective autolysis. PCMV endothelial cells required three dimensions for self-organization, forming suspended cords in planes that either intersected or paralleled the culture vessel floor. After formation, suspended cords continued to exhibit a morphologic plasticity punctuated by the coordinated migrations of PCMV endothelial cells in masse. Sequential propagation of PCMV endothelial cell monolayers and development of suspended capillary like cords recurred cyclically when cells were left in culture without passage for several weeks. Cord development was also observed in PCMV pericyte-endothelial cell cocultures with large proportions of pericytes. However, pericytes were not located in cross sections of suspended cords formed in coculture.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1990
- Accession Number
- ADA222967
Entities
People
- Douglas H. Robinson
- Steven H. Deschner
- Thor B. Nielsen
- Yuan-hsu Kang
Organizations
- Naval Medical Research Center