• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.148-158
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• 1991

The purpose of this research was to establish the culture condition for dissociated submandibu -lar gland (SG) cells. After trypsin digestion of SG from 3-4 weeks old mice, dissociated cells were cultured in 1OO/o fetal bovine serum-Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (FBS-DME) or 0.5-2% low protein serum replacement-DME (LPSR-DME) on plastic surface to form monolayer. The effects of FBS, LPSR and hormones on the growth and function of cultured SG cells were examined. SG cells dissociated by enzyme were successfully cultured and were characterized as epithelial-like cells by light and electron microscope. The maximal DNA synthesis of cultured SG cells was achieved by DME containing 5-10% FBS. The same results were obtained when the effects of LPSR on cell proliferation were examined up to a LPSR concentration of 2%. SG cells cultured in 20/o LPSR-DME expressed a population doubling time of 42.5 hrs and a saturation density of 1.2 $\times$10 5cell/cm$^2$. Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in medium did not influence on the DNA synthesis of the cultured SG cells, but stimulated protein synthesis of the SG cells. Thyroxine (T4) stimulated protein synthesis of the SCI cells markedly in a dose-dependent fashion. EGF secretion by the cultured SG cells increased significandy by DHT and or T4 trearment. This finding indicated that secretion of EGF by the SG cells was under the control of the hormones such as androgen and thyroid hormones. It seems to be that the culture condition described here can be used as a useful tool for further research on the SCI cells.