[Interaction of different types of epithelium in a mixed culture].

Interaction of several lines of epithelial cells was studied in a mixed culture: FBT (bovine fetal trachea), MDSK (dog kidney), IAR-2 (rat liver), MPTR (SV-40 transformed mouse kidney). During mixed cultivation epithelia cells of different types were capable to force out each other from the substrate to full elimination. This capacity correlated with the pattern of cell contacts with the substrate. It is supposed that epithelial cells can form lamellae at the lower surfaces competing for substrate. Those cells which have lamellae with continuous marginal focal contacts and numerous focal contacts eliminate the cells having lamellae with few focal contacts.