Behaviour of human ameloblastoma cells in collagen matrix in vitro: an ultrastructural study

We investigated the behaviour of human ameloblastoma cells in collagen matrix in vitro. The ameloblastoma tissue was extirpated from a 75 yr-old woman. Small segments of the tissues were cultured in 0.18% collagen gel. After several weeks, collagen gels containing ameloblastoma tissue were fixed and examined by light microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Outgrowth of primary cultured cells could be recognized as processes like growth rims around the tissue pieces within 2-3 days after tissue culture. Light microscopically, these cells formed a duct-like structure. The characteristics of ameloblastoma cells in vivo with peripheral epithelial cells and stellate cells reappeared in vitro, and they were connected with one another in cytoplasmic processes by desmosomes. Also, some cells had many intracellular filaments, amorphous nuclei and vacuoles. The results indicated that this culture system in vitro might be applied to the cytogenetic analysis of ameloblastoma.