Effect of culture conditions on the obtention of boar epididymal epithelial cell monolayers

The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of the collagenase digestion time, the initial density of fragments and the culture temperature on the obtention of a boar epididymal epithelial cell culture, which is a useful methodology for the study of epididymal functions. A confluent monolayer of caput, corpus and cauda epididymal epithelial cells was only obtained when an adequate enzymatic digestion of the connective tissue surrounding the epididymal tubule was performed. For the correct digestion of caput and corpus fragments two collagenase digestions of 2 and 1 h, respectively, were enough. Cauda fragments, however, needed two collagenase digestions of 3 h each. A confluent monolayer of caput, corpus and cauda epididymal epithelial cells was obtained regardless of the initial density tested (15, 30, 60 and 90 fragments/well). However, cultures originated from 15 and 30 fragments/well showed higher cell concentration during the first 2 weeks of culture than cultures originated from 60 and 90 fragments/well. A confluent monolayer of caput, corpus and cauda epididymal epithelial cells was obtained at both 32 and 37 °C, but at 32 °C cells grew very slowly and confluence was not reached until a week later than it was with cells growing at 37 °C. In conclusion, we have observed that the time of digestion with collagenase is an important factor for the successful establishment of boar epididymal cell monolayers, and that the initial density of fragments and the culture temperature should be taken into account.