Abstract
Endothelial cells are one of the three major cell types of the lung parenchyma and serve as the lung's interface with the circulation. These cells have been previously isolated from adult lung. We have now succeeded in isolation and culture of endothelial cells from fetal lung. Lungs are removed from 19 day (term = 22 d) fetal rats, minced, and dissociated into individual cells with trypsin. Fibroblast numbers are reduced by an initial attachment to plastic culture flasks for 1 hr, after which the remaining cells are centrifuged and incubated as a pellet for 1 hr at 37°C. The cells are then resuspended and injected into collagen sponges (GelfoamR). Endothelial cells and some fibroblasts float free of the sponges and attach to the underlying flask over the next 24 hr. The fibroblasts are then eliminated by trypsinizing the attached cells and allowing the fibroblasts to attach to a fresh tissue culture flask for 3 hr, following which a pure fraction of endothelial cells remain and are replated. These cells are identified by their characteristic "cobblestone" morphology and positive stain for factor VIII by immunofluorescence. There is strong contact inhibition which diminishes after one week in culture. This method will provide a means to study the role of the endothelial cell in fetal lung development.
(Supported by NIH grants HL-27372 and HL-27352)
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Jose, J., Post, M. & Smith, B. ISOLATION AND CULTURE OF FETAL LUNG ENDOTHELIAL CELLS. Pediatr Res 18 (Suppl 4), 140 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00281
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-198404001-00281
