Spreading of fibroblast-like cells on grooved surfaces: A study by scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

A SEM study was made of the dynamics of the attachment and spreading of mouse embryo fibroblast-like cells and of neoplastic L strain fibroblasts on surfaces with ordered relief (polyvinylchloride plates with 40 μm deep grooves of triangle profile, located in parallel at 200 μm intervals). No difference in the character of surface microstructure was revealed between different parts of the substrate surface. It has been shown that during contact interaction with the grooved part of the substrate, the cell successively develops at its base, structures similar to those observed on the flat surface. With embryo fibroblast-like cells these are elongated extensions which are soon replaced by intensively developing lamelloplasm (with most L strain fibroblasts, extensions only, while some L cells develop defective lamelloplasm). In contrast to cells seeded on the flat surfaces, development of such structures at the cell base is often uneven. Being disposed in the depth of the groove the cell frequently contacts simultaneously the two opposite slopes of the groove, but not its bottom. It is only in the contacting parts of the cell surface that the above structures are formed. It is suggested that development of the structures responsible for attachment of the cell to the substrate is induced in a certain part of the cell surface by the direct contact of that part with the substrate. When two separate parts are involved in the contact simultaneously the intensity of structure development in each may differ. The asymmetrical development of the structures, lamelloplasm in particular, may be responsible for the observed migration of embryo fibroblast-like cells from the grooves.