Cat tracheal gland cells in primary culture

Conditions for the primary culture of isolated cat tracheal gland cells were established. Cells plated onto glutaraldehyde-fixed gels of rat tail collagen grew to confluency after 8 days of culture forming a monolayer of cuboidal cells with ultrastructural characteristics of epithelial cells and immunoreactivity to antikeratins. Cultured cells synthesized and released radiolabeled high-molecular-weight glycoconjugates. Glycoconjugate secretion was increased approximately 10% in response to the cholinergic agonist, carbachol. Secretion of glycoconjugates was unrelated to regulated exocrine secretion, since these cells were devoid of secretion granules as assessed by light and electron microscopy. Confluent cultures also generated a spontaneous potential difference and short-circuit current, which were both inhibited by ouabain and increased by carbachol. This suggested gland cells contribute to fluid secretion by active ion-transport mechanisms. We also plated cells onto unfixed collagen gels that were released from the culture dish at confluency. Cells were columnar with apically oriented secretion granules that stained with alcian blue and for blood group A immunoreactivity. Secretion of radiolabeled high-molecular-weight glycoconjugates was increased 27% by carbachol. These cell culture systems may serve as models to investigate glandular secretory mechanisms and their regulation.