Figure 1

Primary cultures of ameloblastoma cells. (A) Primary culture ameloblastoma cells formed a colony or migrated out from ameloblastoma tissue under phase-contrast microscopy (× 100). (B) Sub-cultured ameloblastoma cells had vigorous growth in 2–4 passages. Cells were large and flattened or spindle-shaped under phase-contrast microscopy (× 200). (C) Immunocytochemistry confirmed the epithelial origin of the ameloblastoma cells based on cytokeratin 14 and 16 expression; cytokeratin 18 and vimentin were only weakly expressed (× 300). (D) Immunofluorescence for MMP-2 in ameloblastoma cells. Cells were examined and photographed under fluorescent microscopy. The green fluorescence shows the localization of MMP-2 and nuclei were counterstained with propidium iodine (PI) which fluoresced red (× 300).