Abstract: PURPOSE : To establish the primary culture model of salivary gland epithelial cells from Wistar rats in vitro and provide seeds cells for studies of salivary diseases. METHODS : The parotid gland was obtained from Wistar rats which were 1-2 days old under sterile conditions, and the gland capsule was removed under the operating microscope. The parotid gland cells were cultivated with tissue block method in serum-free medium (kerotinocyte, SFM) containing rat epidermal growth factor (rEGF), bovine pituitary extract (BPE), hydrocortisone, transferrin, insulin, etc. The morphology of the culture cells was observed under inverted phase contrast microscope. The cells were identified by H-E staining and cytokeratin, vimentin immunohistostaining. RESULTS : The morphology of parotid gland epithelial cells was triangle, polygon, round or short spindle, and the cells displayed monolayer growth with loose connections. H-E staining showed the cells were round, with blue-stained nuclei, projections and intercellular bridge. The cells were positive for cytokeratin, which confirmed that the cultured cells were from epithelium origin. Most cells were positive for vimentin, actin and calponin, which further determined the cultured cells were mainly myoepithelial cells. The primary cells grew well in 3-5 days, and could survive for about one week. CONCLUSIONS : The parotid gland epithelial cells of Wistar rat are simply and quickly cultivated with tissue block method. The primary culture model of parotid gland epithelial cells in vitro was successfully established.

Key words: Salivary gland, Parotid gland epithelial cells, Primary culture, Tissue cultivation, Rats