Selected salivary-gland cell culture and the effects of isoproterenol, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and substance P.

To establish a selected salivary-gland cell culture and determine the effect of neuropeptides, monolayers were cultured using 3T3 cells as a feeder layer. To confirm the origin of these cultured cells, amylase production was examined by electron microscopy and periodic acid-Schiff staining, together with immunocytochemical analysis of myosin, anti-cytokeratin (CK-1, CK 10/13, CK MNF116, CK LMW, CK HMW and CK-19) and amylase antibody. The cultured cells demonstrated secretion granules containing amylase and presented features characteristic of acinar cells, which they retained until passage two. By using a feeder layer in conjunction with a newly formulated culture medium, the selectability of these cells was improved. Changes in proliferation of cultured salivary-gland cells in the presence of selected neurotransmitters were also examined. Isoproterenol enhanced cellular proliferation. On the other hand, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide and substance P, which increase the weight of salivary glands in vivo, showed no significant enhancement of proliferation.