الفهرس | Only 14 pages are availabe for public view |
Abstract Background: Salivary gland stem cell therapy is an attractive putative option to treat various salivary gland disorders and cases causing salivary hypofunction. Aim: The aim of this work is to isolate stem cells from the Submandibular and Parotid salivary glands of albino rats for identification and characterization. Also, to assess the proliferation rate, the cryopreservation ability, and to culture isolated stem cells in cell culture inserts. Methodology: Fifteen adult male albino rats were used in this study. The Submandibular and Parotid salivary glands were dissected and prepared for tissue culture. Identification and characterization were carried out through assessment of proliferation rate, performing flow cytometry analysis and colony forming unit-fibroblast assay. Cryopreservation, Culturing of stem cells in cell culture inserts and ultrastructural study of the SG stem cells using Scanning electron microscopy were also carried out. Results: Stem cells from both glands were successfully isolated and were positive for salivary gland stem cell markers CD133 and CD117. The Submandibular salivary gland stem cells showed faster and higher proliferation rate and also formed more colonies than the parotid gland stem cells. Stem cells from both glands formed multicellular layers when cultured on the transmembrane culture inserts yet the submandibular multicellular layer was apparently thicker than that of the Parotid gland. Cryopreservation was performed for both groups and thawed cells of the Submandibular group showed a higher percentage of viability than the parotid group. Conclusions/Significance: Rats salivary glands contain a ‘putative’ stem cell population, expressing salivary gland stem cell markers that are capable of forming multicellular layers when cultured on transmembrane cell culture inserts. Also, stem cells isolated from salivary glands can be successfully cryopreserved showing sufficiently high number of viable cells after thawing. |