Mikrokinematographische und elektronenmikroskopische Beobachtungen an Zelloberflächen und Zellkontakten der menschlichen Carcinom-Zellkulturlinie HEp 2

Abstract

HEp 2 cells in tissue culture on a solid substrate first form a monolayer, but with increasing cell density begin to overlap and pile up. The present study describes the morphology of cell peripheries in cultures, developed from trypsin-dissociated material, during the pre-confluency period of monolayer formation. Continuous recording by phase contrast microscopy and cinematography was supplemented by scanning and transmission electron microscopy of selected stages. The instantaneous fixation procedure described by Parducz provided an opportunity to compare equally treated cells by phase contrast microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. In addition, HEp 2 cells were transplanted into conditioned golden hamsters and gave rise to solid tumors. Transmission electron microscopy did not reveal qualitative differences between the fine structure of cells grown in vitro and in vivo.