Isolation and short term culture of canine adrenal microvascular endothelial cells.

A rapid method for the isolation of endothelial cells from canine adrenal glands is described. The technique is based on collagenase digestion of adrenal glands following mechanical tissue disruption. The endothelial cells attach and spread onto plastic petri dishes coated with a commercial attachment factor approximately one hour after seeding. Duration to first passage was approximately one week. Doubling times were 2-3 days. Cells were positively identified with immunoperoxidase staining for von Willebrand factor antigen.