Figure 2
Phase contrast microscopy of human gallbladder carcinoma cell lines GBC-SD ( a ) and SGC-996 ( b ) cultured three-dimensionally on Matrigel ( a 1 , b 1 ; original magnification × 100) and rat-tail collagenmatrix ( a 2-5 , b 2-5 , original magnification × 200) in vitro. Highly aggressive GBC-SD cells form patterned, vasculogenic-like networks when being cultured on Matrigel (a 1 ) and rat-tail collagenmatrix (a 2 ) for 14 days. Similarly, the three-dimensional cultures of GBC-SD cells stained with H&E showed the vasculogenic-like structure at three weeks (a 3 ); PAS positive, cherry-red materials found in granules and patches in the cytoplasm of GBC-SD cells appeared around the signal cell or cell clusters when stained with PAS without hematoxylin counterstain (a 4 ). However, poorly aggressive SGC-996 cells did not form these networks when cultured under the same conditions (b 1-4 ). GBC-SD cells cultured on a SGC-996 cells preconditioned matrix were not inhibited in the formation of the patterned networks by the poorly aggressive cell preconditioned matrix (a 5 ). Poorly aggressive SGC-996 cells form pattern, vasculogenic-like networks when being cultured on a matrix preconditioned by the GBC-SD cells (b 5 ).