Connective tissue formation by lung fibroblasts in vitro.

Guinea pig lung fibroblasts were grown in monolayer culture after enzymatic disaggregation of lung parenchyma. Light and electron microscopy indicated that the cultures were relatively homogeneous with respect to cell type. Synthesis of matrix glycosaminoglycans and collagen was demonstrated throughout the life of the culture. The properties of the guinea pig cell strains make these a suitable in vitro model system for studying the regulation of connective tissue metabolism of pulmonary tissue.