OBJECTIVETo purpose of study aimed at investigating the technique of culturing oral epithelia in vitro and to set up an experimental model for further reconstructing oral mucosa in vitro.

METHODSThe oral mucosa was taken from young New Zealand rabbits, and the mucosa was digested with enzyme and suspended in liquid to form cellular suspension. Being seeded, the cells were cultured motionlessly. The medium was changed regularly and the cells were subcultured.

RESULTSThe cultured cells were all epithelial cells without fibroblasts, and they were proved to be diploid cells. The cells were subcultured in 1-13 generations which survived for 50-60 days.

CONCLUSIONThe oral epithelium of young New Zealand rabbit can be cultured in vitro, maintaining the ability to proliferate in a certain period. It is a pilot study to reconstruct oral tissue in vitro.

Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Cells, Cultured ; Coculture Techniques ; Epithelial Cells ; cytology ; Female ; L Cells (Cell Line) ; Male ; Mice ; Mouth Mucosa ; cytology ; Rabbits ; Tissue Engineering