Co-cultivation of endothelial and smooth muscle cells on opposite sides of a porous membrane.

A co-culture system is here proposed that mimics the topographical situation of the vessel wall in which endothelial cells are separated by a fenestrated elastic lamina from smooth muscle cells. Bovine aortic endothelial cells were grown on one side of a thin microporous membrane and smooth muscle cells were cultivated on the other side. The microporous membrane was inserted in a special frame so that a two-compartment system was created. The membrane may act like the fenestrated internal elastic lamina of arteries in allowing interactions and fluid exchanges between the two cell types through its pores. Membranes were examined both by transmission and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the morphology of both cell types.