E. Bhattacharyya et al., INSULIN, TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTORS, AND SUBSTRATES MODULATE GROWTH OF GUINEA-PIG PANCREATIC DUCT CELLS IN-VITRO, Gastroenterology, 109(3), 1995, pp. 944-952
Background & Aims: Little is known of the physiological mechanisms tha
t control cellular renewal in the pancreatic excretory duct system. Th
is study investigated the effects of potential regulatory substances o
n the growth of cultured guinea pig pancreatic duct epithelial monolay
ers. Methods: Pancreatic duct explants were cultured for 3 days on pla
stic and on permeable filters in the presence and absence of different
substances. Growth of epithelial monolayers from these explants was m
easured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation and morphometric proc
edures. Results: Epidermal growth factor and insulin both enhanced mon
olayer growth and together had an additive effect. Transforming growth
factor alpha enhanced and transforming growth factor beta inhibited g
rowth, whereas glucagon, somatostatin, pancreatic polypeptide, secreti
n, cerulein, bombesin, and dexamethasone had no significant effects. M
onolayer growth on type I collagen-coated filters was enhanced when co
mpared with that of monolayers grown on tissue culture plastic. Cell g
rowth from explants on filters coated with type IV collagen and fibron
ectin was comparable with that on plastic, whereas growth on Matrigel-
or laminin-coated filters was reduced. Conclusions: insulin, transfor
ming growth factors, and substrate components modulate growth of pancr
eatic duct epithelial cells in vitro, suggesting that they are importa
nt regulators of cell division in the excretory duct system of the int
act pancreas.