THE EFFECTS OF BASIC FIBROBLAST GROWTH-FACTOR, TRANSFORMING GROWTH-FACTOR-ALPHA, AND TRANSFORMING-GROWTH-FACTOR-BETA ON MESENCHYMAL CELLS IN THE RABBIT PHALLUS - AN IN-VITRO STUDY

Effects of bFGF, TGF alpha and TGF beta on cultured mesenchymal cells of rabbit phalli were investigated, A remarkable cell proliferation re aching confluency was only obtained from the media containing bFGF by the first week of culture, By subsequent 4 weeks culture using such co nfluent cells in the media containing bFGF, TGF alpha or TGF beta, res pectively, cells cultured in the media containing bFGF showed an activ e transformation to endothelial precursor cells determined by positive immunoreactions for factor VIII-related antigen at 2 weeks, By electr on microscopy, such vasoformative cells appeared in contact with each other, occasionally forming a solid cell cord, The use of Matrigel's b asement membrane matrix (Matrigel) in each culture bed promoted the ca pillary ingrowth, implying that certain extracellular matrix (ECM) com ponents included in Matrigel may accelerate the formation of neocapill aries. Enhancement in the production of ECM components and transformat ion to smooth muscle cells determined by positive immunoreactions for actin were also seen in cells cultured in the media containing TGF alp ha and TGF beta, respectively, The present results indicate that the a bove growth factors play crucial roles in the differentiation of the r abbit cavernous body.