The isolation of epithelial cells from the rat epididymis

Epithelial cells from the epididymis were released by digesting the chopped epididymis with pronase followed by collagenase plus hyaluronidase. The epithelial cells were further separated from contaminating cell types by differential centrifugation and sedimentation at unit gravity through a gradient of sucrose in Ringer. The isolated cells remained viable as judged by the exclusion of trypan blue. The cells respired in the presence of glucose and the rate of respiration was not altered by the subsequent addition of pyruvate.