Cryopreserved mouse pancreatic acinar cells from long-term explant outgrowth cultures maintain their secretory phenotype after thawing

Abstract

Background/objectivesWe recently reported an explant outgrowth culture method for obtaining functionally competent mouse pancreatic acinar cells for long-term in vitro purposes. The aim of the present study was to explore the possibility of cryostoring these cells without loss of functional differentiation. MethodsAcinar cells prepared by the explant outgrowth method were cryopreserved using a DMSO-based protocol and stored in liquid nitrogen for 4 weeks. The following characteristics were compared in cryopreserved and parallel non-frozen cell preparations: cell viability and recovery, amylase content in viable cells before culture, basal and stimulated amylase release in culture and the ability of the cells to form glandular structures in Matrigel. ResultsImmediate post-thaw viability of the cells was similar to that of freshly isolated cells. Approximately 53% of viable cells frozen were recovered after thawing. Intracellular amylase content was identical in frozen and non-frozen cells. Cryopreserved cells maintained their ability to secrete amylase and to respond to caerulein stimulation in 4-day secondary cultures. They also were observed to form amylase-expressing glandular structures in three-dimensional cultures in Matrigel in a similar manner as non-frozen cells. ConclusionsThis study shows that pancreatic acinar cells can be cryopreserved for long-term storage in liquid nitrogen without dedifferentiation. Successful cryopreservation helps to refine the experimental use of primary acinar cells by enabling their banking for on-demand utilization.