The aims of the current investigation were (1) to establish an efficient procedure for the isolation of rodent
harderian gland cells and to define conditions for maintenance of viable differentiated cells; (2) to compare
the in vitro growth pattern of cultured epithelial cells; and (3) to characterise the cultured epithelial cells
from 3 rodent species: Wistar rats, Syrian hamsters and Djungarian hamsters. We have established primary
culture conditions that permit the maintenance of viable and differentiated secretory cells from adult rodent
harderian gland. This study demonstrates that the cell growth pattern is faster in hamsters than in rats and
despite morphological changes, epithelial cells reestablish their distinctive (biochemical/metabolic) phenotype
as indicated by lipid-containing vacuoles, porphyrin pigment and serotonin and tryptophan hydroxylase
labelling.