Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Expansion of murine-derived mesenchymal cells is difficult in vitro and it is unclear whether this phenomenon is caused partly by cell apoptosis.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the differences of mouse lung mesenchymal cell apoptosis between normal oxygen and low oxygen culture conditions.
METHODS: C57BL/6J male mouse lung derived-mesenchymal cells were isolated by primary explant culture and cultured under normal (20% O2) and low oxygen (5% O2) conditions. The differences in intracellular active oxygen level, apoptotic rate and ultrastructure were observed.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The number of hematopoietic cells was decreased with increased cell passage under both 5% and 20% O2 condition. The active oxygen levels were significantly greater in the mouse lung-mesenchymal cells under 20% O² condition compared with those under 5% O2 condition. Apoptosis was more in cells under 20% O₂ condition compared with those under 5% O2 condition. These indicate that under normal oxygen culture condition, the apoptotic rate of cells increases and low oxygen can reduce the apoptosis.