Abstract

The present research aimed to develop a method for the isolation and culture of porcine Mammary Epithelial Cells (pMECs) to study mammary epithelial barrier in vitro. In agreement with the application of the 3Rs, porcine mammary gland tissues were collected at a local slaughterhouse and, after dissociation, the cells were isolated, cultured and characterized by morphology, cell cycle analysis and immunophenotyping. The ability to create a barrier was tested by TEER (Transepithelial/transendothelial electrical resistance) and the gene expression of genes related to drug transporters was evaluated by a PCR array. All the three pMECs cellular lines isolated are able to create a tight barrier and express the main ABC and SLC drug transporters confirming that the method of isolation is efficient to obtain primary pMECs lines to study epithelial barrier functions in the pig model. This activity was carried out as a part of Conception project (GA 821520).