RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Growth and contractility of cells from fibrocellular epiretinal membranes in primary tissue culture. JF British Journal of Ophthalmology JO Br J Ophthalmol FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. SP 116 OP 126 DO 10.1136/bjo.72.2.116 VO 72 IS 2 A1 D. Y. Jiang A1 P. S. Hiscott A1 I. Grierson A1 D. McLeod YR 1988 UL http://bjo.bmj.com/content/72/2/116.abstract AB Cells grew out in tissue culture from 37 of 53 fibrocellular epiretinal membrane explants, those from membranes of less than four months' clinical duration growing more consistently, more rapidly, and more exuberantly than those from membranes of more than four months' clinical duration. Electron microscopy demonstrated prominent microfilaments in the cytoplasm of some of the cells, and immunostaining for actin showed great variations in the pattern and intensity of staining. An ATP contraction assay conducted on 44 detergent-extracted cells and 47 intact cells revealed in each case a 30% average reduction in cell area. Immunostaining for cytokeratins following the ATP assay showed no significant difference in cell contraction between epithelial cells and non-epithelial cells. Clinical duration of the membrane had no significant influence on the contractility of cells growing from the explant.