Bl. Lee et al., Reconstituted basement membrane reduces proliferation and increases prolactin expression of GH(3) cells, ENDOCR J, 46(4), 1999, pp. 597-604
This study investigated the effects of reconstituted basement membrane Matr
igel on the proliferation and prolactin expression of GH(3) cells in cultur
e for 6 days. When cells were cultured on Matrigel, the initial attachment
was increased but the cell number was not changed with time whereas rapid i
ncrease in cell number was observed in cultures on plastic. Bromodeoxyuridi
ne (BrdU)-labeling showed that BrdU incorporation ratio of GH, cells cultur
ed on Matrigel was about one half of that observed with cells cultured on p
lastic (9.7+/-0.7% vs. 18.7+/-1.2%). Immunocytochemistry revealed that the
ratio of the prolactin-immunoreactive GH(3) cells was about 3.6 times (58.4
+/-2.9% on Matrigel vs. 16.2+/-1.4% on plastic), which was compatible with
the results of Western blot analysis. In situ hybridization demonstrated th
at prolactin mRNA-positive cells were identified more frequently when cells
were cultured on Matrigel compared to cultures on plastic. These findings
indicate that Matrigel is a proper culture substrate for the long-term cult
ure of GH(3) pituitary cells due to the inhibition of overgrowth and promot
ion of prolactin expression.