Primary Rat Lacrimal Cells Undergo Acinar-like Morphogenesis on Reconstituted Basement Membrane and Express Secretory Component under Androgen Stimulation

Mechanism for Carbachol-Induced Secretion of Lacritin in Cultured Monkey Lacrimal Acinar Cells

“…Proliferation of acinar cells along with loss of differentiated characteristics with cultured time was also observed in rat and rabbit acinar cells. 29,30 Rabbit and rat acinar cells formed acinus-like structures when they were cultured on synthetic matrix (Matrigel; Invitrogen) for 2 to 3 days or 11 days, respectively, and they also secreted proteins such as ␤-hexosaminidase and peroxidase. 18,29 Acinus-like structures were not morphologically detected in our cultured monkey cells.…”

Down-regulation of Androgen Receptor Expression and Inhibition of Lacrimal Gland Cell Proliferation by Retinoic Acid

“…The choice of a parameter to measure in such an experiment was dif®cult because current understanding of the speci®c role of androgens in lacrimal acinar cells is limited. It has been reported that androgens stimulate production of secretory component by rat lacrimal acinar cells (Hann et al, 1991;Vanaken et al, 1998), but this has not yet been demonstrated in primary rabbit lacrimal acinar cells.…”

“…Several lines of evidence suggest that these receptors are essential to lacrimal function. Androgens stimulate secretory component production by rat lacrimal cells in vitro (Hann et al, 1991;Vanaken et al, 1998). Ovariectomy causes impaired lacrimal gland function in female rabbits, but normal structure and function are restored by treatment of these animals with dihydrotestosterone (DHT) (Azzarollo et al, 1995(Azzarollo et al, , 1997.…”

Proliferation of Lacrimal Gland Acinar Cells in Primary Culture. Stimulation by Extracellular Matrix, EGF, and DHT

“…In the present study, we present data on the use of EGF, DHT, Matrigel, and HepatoStim Medium, and demonstrate that the combination of these components was able to induce ef®cient proliferation of lacrimal acinar cells in cell culture dishes. The selection of EGF and Matrigel was based upon a number of earlier reports citing their bene®cial roles (Oliver et al, 1987;Hann et al, 1989;Hann et al, 1991;Kelleher et al, 1991;Meneray et al, 1994;Millar et al, 1996;Chen et al, 1998;Vanaken et al, 1998). DHT was selected for evaluation based on the ®ndings that DHT enhanced production of the pIgR secretory component and other proteins (Vanaken et al, 1996) by acinar cells in vitro, that it increased lacrimal gland DNA content in hypophysectomized rats (Azzarolo et al, 1995) and ovariectomized rabbits (Azzarolo et al, 1997), and that it induced the appearance of mitotic ®gures in lacrimal glands of ovariectomized rabbits (Azzarolo et al, 1999).…”