A study of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions between cells from adjacent retinal tissues

Parkinson, E. K (1977) A study of epithelial-mesenchymal interactions between cells from adjacent retinal tissues. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

The ability of pigmented retina epithelial cells (PRE) to spread upon a number of different cellular substrata was examined and quantitated. PRE cells could not spread out upon sheets of cell-types which showed reduced amounts of lamellar cytoplasm, such as epithelial cells (PRE and BSC-1) and transformed fibroblasts (L-929 and CHO-Kl). PRE cells could adhere to the upper surfaces of these cell sheets only in small numbers. PRE cells did appear to be able to spread and move when seeded upon the fibroblast sheets (choroid, BHK 21/C13 and heart) although the fibroblasts themselves were unable to do so. Both classes of cells adhered equally effectively to the fibroblast sheets as measured by the monolayer collection assay. Scanning electron microscope studies showed that the PRE cells appeared to spread upon the fibroblast cells themselves and not the culture substratum. PRE cells which attached to fibroblast sheets exhibited many filopodia whereas those on epithelium did not and possessed many blebs. Transmission electron microscope studies confirmed that the PRE cells were using the fibroblast sheet as a substratum for spreading and not extensive extracellular matrix such as collagen or the plastic culture vessel. Examination of long-term (4 hours) experiments revealed that the PRE cells were able to 'invade' the multilayered choroid sheets they had spread upon, although no contact with the tissue culture substratum was ever noted. Head-on collisions between choroid fibroblasts resulted in classical contact inhibition of movement by one or both of the cells. However, PRE cells were not contact inhibited on collision with the choroid fibroblasts although they induced a contact inhibitory response in the latter. It is suggested that the ability of PRE cell to spread upon and later invade sheets of choroid fibroblasts may be related to their inability to be contact inhibited by the latter. The results are discussed in relation to morphogenesis wound healing and carcinomatous invasion in vivo.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: A SG Curtis
• Keywords: Cellular biology
• Date of Award: 1977
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1977-72633
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• Last Modified: 11 Jun 2019 11:06
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72633