Abstract
Primary cell culture system from middle-ear epithelium of the guinea pig was established in defined condition. Mucosal cells were dispersed with enzymatic procedure and over 90% of the cell viability was obtained. Collagen gel and fibronectin coated Thermanox plate were used as culture substrates, and cultured cells on both materials formed confluent epithelial linings.
Histochemical localization of succinate dehydrogenase, cytochrome oxidase and adenosine triphosphatase in mitochondria were examined. Cultured ciliated cells and some non-ciliated cells with numerous microvilli showed strong activities of succinate dehydrogenase and cytochrome oxidase. Also in vivo, normal ciliated epithelium near the eustachian tube in the middle-ear cavity of the guinea pig revealed strong mitochondrial metabolic activities.
We concluded that this system would be useful for the study of cellular multiplication and differentiation systems of the middle-ear epithelium.
