In vitro culture of nucleus pulposus cells from rat and the study of its cell biology charateristics

Objective:To cuture the nucleus pulposus cells of the rats in vitro and investiage their biological features Methods:Nucleas pulposus were microsurgically harvested from lumbar Spine of 30 day SD rat. The isolated cells were cultured in monolayer culture system. Cultured cells structure were observated with light and transmission microscopy. The effect of pulposus nucleus cells proliferation were measured by using MTT method. Results were analyzed with standard statisctical techniques. Results:Nucleus pulposus cells proliferated in monolayer culture system Cells maintain their basic biological features, have capacity of responding to biochemical stilmuli such as IL-1β and PDGF-BB. Conclusion:This approach provides a convenient system increase cell number without having to use culture conditions that minic those they may exit in vivo. It is feasible to develop a quantitative nucleus pulposus cells cuture system in vitro without loss of their basic phenotype