Cell Culture Models for Polarized Epithelial Monolayers

Abstract

Epithelial cells may be grown on tissue culture plastic or on glass. That cellular polarity is maintained even under these conditions is evinced by, for example, the formation of “domes” (Fig. 17.1) which arise as blisterlike structures following transepithelial fluid movement. Indeed, transepithelial fluid and electrolyte transport may be investigated by analyzing the fluid contained within such domes (Lifschitz 1986). However, the normal, physiological environment of epithelial cells is one in which the basolateral domain of each cell is in contact with extracellular matrix which is shared with other nonepithelial cells. It is from this side of the epithelial sheet that nutrition of growing epithelial cells is normally obtained. By using techniques which approach the normal extracellular environment, a wide range of epithelial cells has been cultured with selection of individual phenotype.