Device for cell co-culture and method for its use in culturing cells

A method for culturing one population of cells on one side of a porous membrane associated with a cell culture insert and another population of cells on another side of the porous membrane comprising:

• mounting an adapter on a cell culture insert on an exterior side of a porous membrane of the cell culture insert having a first receptacle therewithin on a interior side of the membrane, said adapter consisting essentially of an insert end, a open end, having a passage with a longitudinal axis therethrough and having a shoulder intermediate said open end and said insert end, said insert end having an inside diameter sized to accept an end of the cell culture insert having the porous membrane mounted therein, so that when said adapter is releasably coaxially mounted over said end of the cell culture insert, the insert contacts said shoulder and closes said passage, thereby forming a second receptacle for containing fluid over the exterior side of the porous membrane open toward said open end of said adapter;
• positioning the insert having said adapter mounted thereon on a surface so that said second receptacle is upward and open;
• adding a suspension of a first population of cells in a suitable medium into said second receptacle;
• incubating the insert so that said first population of cells forms a substantially confluent layer on the exterior side of said membrane;
• removing the medium from said second receptacle;
• removing said adapter from the insert;
• placing the insert in a container so that the insert is suspended with said first receptacle upward and open;
• adding a suspension of a second population of cells in a suitable medium into the first receptacle and onto the interior side of the membrane;
• adding a suitable medium into the container;
• and
• incubating the container with the insert so that said second population of cells forms a substantially continuous layer on the interior side of the membrane.