Abstract
Using separately obtained epithelial cells and fibroblasts from the porcine laryngeal mucosa, wein vitro successfully reconstructed the laryngeal mucosa including epithelium and lamina propria in a three-dimensional collagen gel matrix culture with an air-liquid interface. The epithelial cells appreared 5-8 cells in thickness and were well-differentiated on the reconstructed lamina propria. In this model, the fibroblasts in the collagen gel matrix and air-liquid interface treatment exert a great influence on the proliferation and differentiation of the cultured epithelial cells. Especially, the fibroblasts indicated the possibility that theyse cells may synthesize and release hepatocyte growth factor. In addition, the fibroblasts also appeared to possibly exert some influence through direct contact and/or arranging the collagen gel matrix into a physiological conformation. This culture system is thus considered to provide an appropriate physiological environment to study differentiation and disease of the larynx.
