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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
04:33
Primary Culture of Rat Adrenocortical Cells and Assays of Steroidogenic Functions
Published on: March 12, 2019
Basic fibroblast growth factor delivery enhances adrenal cortical cellular regeneration
Yinting Chu1, Won Jin Ho, James C Y Dunn
1Biomedical Engineering Interdepartmental Program, Department of Bioengineering, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095-7098, USA.
Tissue Engineering. Part A
|February 7, 2009
Summary
Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) delivery significantly enhanced adrenal cortical cell regeneration and tissue vascularization in mice. This strategy holds promise for engineering vascularized tissues.
Area of Science:
- Tissue engineering
- Regenerative medicine
- Biomaterials
Background:
- Vascularized tissue engineering is crucial for implant survival and function.
- Adrenal cortical cell implants typically undergo significant atrophy.
- Angiogenic factors can promote tissue vascularization and survival.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) delivery on adrenal cortical cell regeneration and tissue vascularization.
- To determine the optimal dosage of bFGF for enhancing implant survival and cellular regeneration.
Main Methods:
- Adrenal cortical cells were co-implanted with poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) microspheres containing either low (2 microg) or high (12 microg) levels of bFGF under the renal capsule in mice.
- Implant weight, cell density, adrenal cortical gene expression, and CD31 immunofluorescence were assessed after 56 days.
Main Results:
- bFGF delivery significantly increased implant weight (5-8 times) and cell density compared to controls.
- High bFGF levels resulted in more uniform CD31 (vascular marker) distribution.
- Adrenal cortical gene expression levels were not significantly altered by bFGF delivery.
Conclusions:
- Delivery of bFGF via PLGA microspheres effectively promotes adrenal cortical cellular regeneration and enhances vascularization.
- bFGF-mediated angiogenesis is a key mechanism for improving the survival and regeneration of engineered adrenal cortical tissue.
- This approach offers a promising strategy for engineering vascularized tissues for therapeutic applications.
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