Establishment of 3 dimensional cell culture system using rat anterior pituitary cells and its applications

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Aims of this project are (1) to establish 3 dimensional (3D) cell culture system using rat anterior pituitary cells and (2) to explore novel functions of anterior pituitary cells using the system. Applicant has applied a hanging drop 3D cell culture method to conventional primary cell culture of rat anterior pituitary cells and has developed a in vitro experimental model that is faithfully reproduced cell and extracellular matrix organization of in vivo anterior pituitary. Utilizing the culture system, applicant further investigated the function of folliculostellate cells that do not secrete classical anterior pituitary hormones and discovered that folliculostellate cells are essential in extracellular matrix formation, such as collagens and laminin, in the anterior pituitary gland.