| Popis: |
Summary It is often necessary to store confluent keratinocyte sheets in culture prior to use in wound cover. In this report the effectof storage at different temperatures (4°C, 22°C and 37°C) on cell numbers, cell viability and cell size of confluent keratinocyte cultures was measured. Cultures were established from three donors aged 14, 36 and 57. Storage at 4°C for all cultures resulted in rapid cell death. Storage at 22°C and 37°C, over 11 days, resulted in a decline in colony forming units. This was most severe in cultures of cells from the eldest donor. It would appear once keratinocytes have reached confluence the sheet, maintained under the culture conditions described, is no longer capable of renewing those proliferative cells which become committed to terminal differentiation. The decline is not due to cell death or solely to increasing cell size. Other factors affecting colony forming ability are discussed. It is recommended that keratinocyte sheets are used as soon as possible after reaching confluence when cells exhibit their greatest proliferative potential. A slower decline in colony forming units is not always achieved with storage at 22°C. |
