Abstract
Background:
Mammary epithelial cells (MECs) have been widely-used over the years as models to understand the physiological function of mammary disease.
Aims:
This study aimed to establish a culture system and elucidate the unique characteristics of bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMECs) from the milk of Ukraine Holstein dairy cows in order to develop a general in vitro model.
Methods:
The milk from a three-year-old lactating dairy cow was used as a source of the epithelial cell, characteristics of BMECs were examined using real time cell assay (RTCA), immunocytochemistry (ICC), reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and Western blot (WB).
Results:
The results showed that BMECs can be recovered from milk, grown in culture, and exhibit the characteristic cobblestone morphology of epithelial cells.
Conclusion:
The established BMECs retained MEC characteristics and secreted β-caseins even when grew on plastic substratum. Thus, the established cell line had normal morphology, growth characteristics, as well as secretory characteristics, and it could be considered as a model system and useful tool for understanding the biology of dairy cow mammary glands.
Keywords:
Bovine mammary epithelial cell; Cobblestone morphology; Mammary disease; Ukraine Holstein dairy cow; β-casein.