PURPOSE: Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells, newly established rat corneal epithelial cell line. METHODS: Morphology of RtCE-1 cells was characterised by light and electron microscopy. Expression of cytokeratins was studied by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and Western blotting. Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells also included karyotype analysis and in vitro study of growth kinetics. RESULTS: The line shows morphological similarities to normal corneal epithelium. The cells express cornea-specific cytokeratins. Karyotype analysis revealed that the cells are polyploid with modal number of chromosomes at passage 30 equalling 72 +/- 14. Growth of the line is partially dependent on EGF. CONCLUSION: RtCE-1 cells may constitute a model for the evaluation of proliferation, function and differentiation of corneal epithelium in vitro.
PURPOSE: Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells, newly established rat corneal epithelial cell line. METHODS: Morphology of RtCE-1 cells was characterised by light and electron microscopy. Expression of cytokeratins was studied by polyacrylamide electrophoresis and Western blotting. Characterisation of RtCE-1 cells also included karyotype analysis and in vitro study of growth kinetics. RESULTS: The line shows morphological similarities to normal corneal epithelium. The cells express cornea-specific cytokeratins. Karyotype analysis revealed that the cells are polyploid with modal number of chromosomes at passage 30 equalling 72 +/- 14. Growth of the line is partially dependent on EGF. CONCLUSION: RtCE-1 cells may constitute a model for the evaluation of proliferation, function and differentiation of corneal epithelium in vitro.