Pga. Thomas et al., ISOLATION, CULTURE, AND CHARACTERIZATION OF EQUINE OVIDUCT EPITHELIAL-CELLS IN-VITRO, Molecular reproduction and development, 41(4), 1995, pp. 468-478
Oviduct epithelial cells (OEC) increasingly are used to support embryo
nic development and to study gamete interactions with the female repro
ductive tract in vitro. This series of experiments was designed to cha
racterize monolayers derived from oviduct epithelium. Epithelial cells
harvested from the isthmus and ampulla of the oviducts of five estrou
s mares were cultured with or without the basal lamina extract, Matrig
el. Within each group OEC were cultured in the presence of either estr
adiol-17 beta or a carrier control. All groups were subcultured three
times. Epithelial cell morphology and function were examined by micros
copy, analysis of secreted proteins, and immunocytochemistry. Epitheli
al cells attached more rapidly and reached confluence sooner when cult
ured on Matrigel than in uncoated wells. Cells showed variable evidenc
e of ciliary activity up to 12 days in primary culture. Cells grown on
Matrigel had a more polarized appearance in primary culture than thos
e in uncoated wells, although no morphologic difference between anatom
ic site of origin or between steroid treated groups was noted. Anatomi
c site of origin had no effect, and steroid treatment had minimal effe
cts, on patterns of secreted proteins. However, some differences were
noted in protein secretion between cells grown with or without Matrige
l. These data suggest that culture substrate may affect structure and
function of OEC monolayers. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.