An Ultrastructural Study of Fibroblasts Derived from Bovine Ligamentum Nuchae and Their Capacity for Elastogenesis in Culture

Fibroblast cultures were readily propagated from fetal bovine ligamentum nuchae. The ligament cells were easily cultured by standard techniques and were maintained in culture flasks for up to 57 days. During this time they accumulated an extensive extracellular matrix which contained the main structural elements of the parent tissue, namely collagen and elastic fibres. Elastogenesis was seen to proceed in two phases: the formation of parallel bundles of 10--12 nm wide microfibrils followed by the deposition within these bundles of amorphous elastin-like material. Elastic fibres were not produced in cultures that were supplemented with ascorbic acid either in the absence or presence of the lathyrogen BAPN.