Growth and differentiation of Vero cells cultivated in three-dimensional type 1 collagen.

Vero cells grown in a three-dimensional arrangement of type 1 collagen were phenotypically altered. Such alterations consisted of variations in cellular form and reactivity to toluidine blue. After 22 days of incubation the Vero cells formed three-dimensional arrangements in both tubular form and cellular mass. A reduction in the collagenous substrate was observed in the culture and the alteration noted in the birefringence of the extracellular matrix was attributed to enzymatic action. This model demonstrates a good in vitro system for the study of collagenase activation and for in vitro tests with collagen.