Cells on Porous Substrates In Vitro and In Vivo

Disaggregated cells of kidney, lung and liver of 14-day-old chick embryos were cultivated in vitro on several open-pore, organic-polymer sponges and on one gelatin sponge; in some cases this was followed by short-term, subcutaneous implantation into rats. In order to study invasion of connective tissue cells into the porous matrix, the same organic-polymer materials were implanted into rats, and in one experimental series this was followed by in vitro cultivation after they had been retrieved from the animals. The results showed that: 1) epithelial cells have different requirements for invasion and histogenesis from those of connective tissue cells; 2) the type of porous substrate influences morphology of connective tissue that forms within it.