Neurotransmitter-stimulated ion transport by cultured porcine vas deferens epithelium

Abstract

A collagenase-based dissociation technique has been developed to routinely establish monolayer cultures of freshly isolated porcine vas deferens epithelium. Cells isolated from each tissue are transferred to 25-cm2 tissue culture flasks and grown in a standard cell culture medium. Flasks reach confluency in 3–4 days, and cells are subsequently seeded onto permeable supports. Cultured cells display a monolayer cobblestone appearance and are immunoreactive to anti-ZO-1 and anti-cytokeratin antibodies. Electron microscopy is employed to demonstrate the presence of junctional complexes and microvilli. When evaluated in modified Ussing chambers, cultured monolayers exhibit a basal lumen negative potential difference, high electrical resistance (>1,000 Ω · cm2), and respond to norepinephrine, vasopressin, ATP, adenosine, and histamine, with changes in short-circuit current indicative of anion secretion. Responses are significantly attenuated in Cl−- and/or HCO[Formula: see text]-free solutions. Attempts to further optimize culture conditions have shown that chronic exposure to insulin increases proliferation rates. Thus the culture method described will reliably produce viable neurotransmitter-responsive cell monolayers that will allow for the characterization of vas deferens epithelial function and associated control mechanisms.