Hydra mesoglea: a model for investigating epithelial cell--basement membrane interactions.

Isolated hydra mesoglea served as a suitable substrate for the attachment and spreading of hydra cells in vitro, irrespective of the species tested. Hydra cells did not attach and spread on substrates typically used for culturing mammalian cells. Mammalian and Drosophila cells attached and spread on plastic culture dishes but not on isolated mesoglea. Xenopus epithelial cells spread on both plastic and mesoglea. Because of the similarities of hydra mesoglea to vertebrate basement membranes, suggestions are offered for using mesoglea to study the interactions of epithelial cells with their basement membranes.