CULTURE AND PHAGOCYTIC CHARACTERISTICS OF SCHWANN-CELLS INVITRO - POSSIBLE MODEL SUBSTRATE FOR CULTIVATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-LEPRAE

Abstract

Tissue cultures of 5 acoustic and 4 spinal schwannomas [human] demonstrated good growth and migration of Schwann cells within 2-4 days. Two types of cells corresponding to Antoni type A tissue and Antoni type B tissue were clearly recognized. Both these cell types showed avid phagocytosis when the cultures were inoculated with mycobacteria, either ICRC (derived by the Indian Cancer Research Centre) bacilli or Mycobacterium leprae. The phagocytic index was 95% at the end of 2 h. The Schwann cells grown in vitro also showed intense acid phosphatase reaction with Gomori''s stain, suggesting lysosomal activity. Neither this nor any phagocytosis was evidenced by fetal fibroblasts cultured similarly. Cells from 2 spinal neurofibromas grew and migrated slowly in vitro and were mainly fibroblasts.