Abstract: Abstract： Objective To optimize and establish the methodology for culturing and inducing differentiation of mouse preadipocytes 3T3-L1. Methods The mouse cells 3T3-L1 were incubated in DMEM medium contained with 10% FBS, during which the incubation medium was refreshed every 2 to 3 days. Two methods were used to introduce differentiation, including three- drug combination group and four- drug combination group. The protocol of medium Ⅰin three- drug combination group including insulin 10 mg/L, IBMX 0.5 mmol/L and DEX 1.0 μmol/L. The protocol of mediumⅠin four- drug combination group including indometacin 0.1 mmol/L based on those of three-drug combination group. Both of them were incubated for 2 days and continuous for 2 times. And medium Ⅱ included insulin 10 mg/L for 2-day culturing and continuous for 2 times. Oil red O staining was used to observe the morphological changes of two groups of cells before and after treatment under inverted microscope. Results Mouse preadipocytes 3T3-L1 appeared in good conditions and grew in a paving stone fashion. These cells covered homogeneously the bottom of incubators, the culture medium refreshed every 2 days. The results of four-drug combination group were better than those of three-drug combination group. After three-drug combination induced differentiation, there was no significant change in cell morphology. Comparing with three- drug combination induced differentiation, four- drug combination was successfully achieved in over 90% of the cell inducing, which were round-shaped, with jacinth ester droplets by oil-red O staining. Conclusion We have optimized the method for culturing and inducing differentiation of mouse preadipocytes 3T3-L1 by adding indometacin on the basis of the three-drug combination induced differentiation.

Key words: adipocytes, in vitro, cell culture techniques, 3T3-L1 cells