ESTABLISHMENT OF A TISSUE-CULTURE SYSTEM FOR HAMSTER SEBACEOUS GLAND-CELLS

Background: A human sebaceous gland culture system is very useful in s tudying the functions of the sebaceous glands at the cellular level. O n the other hand, the success rates for culture systems and the experi mental results from these human culture systems exhibit significant fl uctuations, depending on the condition of the donor skin. Objective: T he purpose of this study was to establish a stable culture system in o rder to investigate the functions of the sebaceous glands under unifor m conditions. Methods: Sebaceous glands from the auricles of 5-week-ol d hamsters were isolated and seeded onto a 3T3 cell feeder layer. The proliferation, Lipid production and response to androgens of these seb aceous-gland-derived cells (SGDC) were then examined. Results: The SGD C showed outgrowth, formed colonies and became confluent in a 35-mm di sh culture after 14 days in primary culture. The amount of intracellul ar lipids significantly increased following the peak of the cell proli feration. The composition of the intracellular lipids from the hamster SGDC was identical to human SGDC, except that the hamster SGDC did no t contain any squalene. Testosterone and 5 alpha-dihydrotestosterone m arkedly stimulated the proliferation of these SGDC in a dose-dependent manner. Conclusion: This tissue culture system will be a useful tool for the study of sebaceous gland function at the cellular level.