CELLULAR HETEROGENEITY IN PRIMARY M0N0LAYER CULTURES OF MOUSE PITUITARY THYROTROPIC TUMORS: SEPARATION OF THYROTROPHS1

Abstract

Primary monolayer cultures of cells derived by enzymatic dispersion from mouse pituitary thyrotropic tumors were demonstrated to be comprised of at least 2 cell types and were separated by selective culture techniques. Suspension cultures of spherical cells had the morphological characteristics of thyrotrophs and produced large quantities of TSH [thyroid stimulating hormone]. Separated monolayer cultures of spreading, planar cells produced collagen but almost no TSH. These observations indicate primary monolayer cultures of cells derived from thyrotropic tumors are heterogeneous, containing only a small proportion of thyrotrophs.