Dispersed rat parotid acinar cells. I. Morphological and functional characterization

Area of Science:

• Cell Biology
• Physiology

Background:

• Studying exocrine gland function requires viable cellular models.
• Previous methods for isolating acinar cells had limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for obtaining morphologically and functionally intact acinar cells from the rat parotid gland.
• To characterize the viability and key physiological responses of these isolated cells for in vitro research.

Main Methods:

• Enzymatic dispersion using collagenase, hyaluronidase, and trypsin.
• Mild mechanical dissociation of rat parotid gland tissue.
• Characterization of cell yield, purity, morphology, and functional assays.

Main Results:

• Achieved 30-50% cell yields with >95% acinar cell purity.
• Isolated cells maintained intracellular polarity and stable monovalent cation composition.
• Cells exhibited functional responses to ouabain and adrenergic stimulation (epinephrine, isoproterenol), including amylase secretion and cyclic AMP synthesis.
• Demonstrated sustained oxygen consumption for up to 8 hours.

Conclusions:

• A robust method for isolating functional rat parotid acinar cells was established.
• These isolated cells serve as a valuable experimental tool for in vitro investigations of receptor physiology, cell membrane function, and cellular secretory mechanisms in exocrine glands.