The behaviour of human ameloblastoma tissue in cell culture

Human ameloblastoma tissue was investigated using cell culture techniques, transmission electron microscopy and fluorescent microscopy. Cultured cellular morphology was dependent on the type of substratum, with polygonal cells predominant on collagen substrata in contrast to an elongated cellular morphology on glass substrata. The presence of tonofilaments and desmosomes confirmed the epithelial origin of these cells. The distribution of Con A surface receptors and cytoplasmic actin in the same cell was studied using a double fluorochrome technique. Incubation with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled Con A at 37 degrees C for increasing time periods resulted in the Con A receptors showing progressive changes in staining patterns from clusters, to caps to perinuclear globules. Sequential changes in cytoplasmic actin, labelled by a specific anti-actin auto-antibody traced with rhodamine-labelled goat anti-human globulin, corresponded to the Con A staining patterns.