Tissue culture of human retinal pigment epithelium.

Adult human retinal pigment epithelium has been enzymatically isolated and established In tissue culture. Primary cultures survived three to six months. Occasionally, cell lines spontaneously evolved from primary cultures. Melanin granules decreased with the age of the culture, became less pigmented but retained some characterstics of melanin-producing cells. Lipofuscin granules are present, but differ from lipofuscin of testicular origin. Mitotic activity is present throughout the life of the cultures.