EFFECTS OF COLLAGEN CONCENTRATION ON EPITHELIAL DIFFERENTIATION - INVITRO ANALYSIS WITH A MUCOSAL TISSUE MODEL

Using collagen, epithelial cells, and fibroblasts isolated from the ra bbit oral mucosa, a mucosal tissue model was prepared in vitro. Using this model, the effects of the collagen concentration on growth and di fferentiation of epithelial cells were studied. A positive correlation was found to exist between the collagen concentration and growth as w ell as the differentiation of epithelial cells. Further, above a 8.6% concentration of collagen, formation of the epithelial process and the basement membrane at the border between the epithelial layer and the connective tissue was noted. A conclusion was drawn that the collagen concentration in the extracellular matrix is deeply related to the gro wth and differentiation of mucosal epithelial cells. At the same time, it can be said that the successful completion of this research projec t endorsed the reliability of our methodology for the study of mucosa.