Subcutaneous transplantation of bovine and human adrenocortical cells in collagen gel in scid mice

Adrenocortical cells of bovine origin and of adult and fetal human origin w ere transplanted subcutaneously (SC) in scid mice after being embedded in c ollagen gel. In this site the cells survived, became vascularized by invasi on of host endothelial cells, and secreted steroids into the circulation. T he animals' own adrenal glands were removed at the time of cell transplanta tion. Steroids secreted by the transplants replaced the essential functions of the animals' own adrenal glands. Adrenalectomized animals without trans planted cells died after several days, but most animals with transplanted b ovine or adult human adrenocortical cells survived; fewer animals survived with transplanted fetal human adrenocortical cells. The histology of the ti ssues formed from transplanted cells resembled that of the normal adrenal c ortex. A few proliferating cells were observed in tissue from bovine or adu lt human cells; there was a greater percentage of dividing cells in tissue derived from fetal cells. Subcutaneous transplantation of bovine or human p rimary adrenocortical cells in collagen provides a model for the study of t he physiology, cell biology, and molecular biology of adrenocortical cells in a three-dimensional vascularized tissue structure in a host animal.