Abstract
Mammary epithelial cells derived from goat milk were cultured without contamination of fibroblasts using the collagen gel. Cells grown on the fixed collagen gel showed similar morphology to those grown in plate cultures, with elongation and pleomorphism and producing a monolayer. After detaching the gels from the dishes cells became rounded. No cellular growth was seen when embedded in the collagen gel. Cells grown on both fixed and floating gel cultures were positive for antikeratin and antiactin immune serum. By electron microscopy bells grown on the fixed gel culture had poor organelles, whereas those on floating gel cultures had moderately developed Golgi apparatuses and laminar structures. No secretory granules were seen in any type of cultures with collagen gel. The floating collagen gel culture might be useful for in vitro studies on differentiation of mammary epithelial cells.
