Culture of microvascular endothelial cells on rat tail collagen

Objective: To established a low cost in vitro culture model of microvascular endothelial cells（MEC） by using rat tail collagen as an adhesive reagent.Methods: Rat tail collagenwas producedunder the sterile condition.The culture dishes were covered with rat tail collagen.Microvessles were isolated,collected and cultured in the culture dishes.MECwere identified using two markers,including factor VIII antigen and γ-glutamyl-transpeptidase（γ-GT）.In addition,the responsivenessof MECto fetal serumwas observed by measuring ³H thymidine incorporation.Results: MEC grew out as typical "cobblestone" and contact inhibitionunder an inverted microscope.The cells were positive for factor VIII antigen.And a lot of γ-GTwas secreted in the supernatants of the cultured cells.Additionally,³H thymidine incorporation of the cells treated by 10% fetal serumelevated by 87.5%（vs control,P＜0.05）.Conclusions: Using rat tail collagen as an adhesive reagent,the cost of MEC culture was decreased and MEC had a better growing state.These results indicated that the method is an economic and credible cultural system of MEC.rat tail collagen;adhesives;capillaries;cell culture