Cultured rabbit gastric epithelial cells producing prostaglandin I2.

A new method with Dispase, a bacterial neutral protease, was developed for purification of gastric mucosal cells from rabbit fetuses. These cells formed a typical polygonal monolayer after removal of fibroblastlike cells by Dispase treatment, and preserved the features of "normal" cells, exhibiting in vitro aging with a finite life span. The culture consisted mainly of surface mucous cells (50%-60% of the total cell population) and produced prostaglandins (predominantly I2). The addition of acetylsalicylic acid to the culture medium caused marked inhibition of prostaglandin production by the cultured gastric epithelial cells. This epithelial cell strain will be useful in studies on cytoprotection of the stomach.