Cell culture vessel and cell culture device

Abstract

A cell culturing vessel according to the present invention comprises: an insert member that has a membrane on which cells are seeded and defines a first internal space that functions as an anaerobic chamber; a vessel that has an attachment / detachment part, to which the insert member is attached and from which the insert member is detached, and that defines a second internal space that functions as an aerobic chamber; a seal member that closes an opening of the aerobic chamber and is present between the attachment / detachment part and the insert member in a state in which the insert member is attached to the attachment / detachment part; and a transmission mechanism that transmits force to the seal member. The seal member is configured so as to close the opening by receiving the force from the transmission mechanism.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cell culture vessel and a cell culture device. [Background technology]

[0002] The cell culture vessel described in Patent Document 1 (WO 2018 / 079793) has a culture vessel and a cell culture insert (hereinafter referred to as a "cell culture insert"). The culture vessel has an opening that communicates with the interior of the culture vessel. The cell culture insert has a cylindrical portion and a porous membrane (hereinafter referred to as a "membrane") that closes the lower end of the cylindrical portion. The cylindrical portion is inserted into the opening so that the membrane is located inside the culture vessel. A culture medium is stored inside the culture vessel. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2018 / 079793 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] If there is a gap between the opening of the culture vessel and the cylindrical part of the cell culture insert (i.e., if the inner diameter of the opening is larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical part), even if the cylindrical part is inserted into the opening, positive pressure is unlikely to be applied to the membrane. However, to maintain airtightness inside the culture vessel filled with the medium, the gap must be sealed with a sealing member. Furthermore, to remove the cell culture insert from the culture vessel, the sealing member must be removed.

[0005] The present invention provides a cell culture vessel that allows easy attachment and detachment of a cell culture insert while suppressing the application of positive pressure to the membrane of the cell culture insert. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The cell culture vessel of the present invention includes an insert member having a membrane on which cells are seeded and defining a first internal space that functions as an anaerobic chamber, a vessel having a detachable part to which the insert member is detached and defining a second internal space that functions as an aerobic chamber, a sealing member that closes the opening of the aerobic chamber that is located between the detachable part and the insert member when the insert member is attached to the detachable part, and a transmission mechanism that transmits force to the sealing member. The sealing member is configured to close the opening by receiving force from the transmission mechanism. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the cell culture vessel of the present invention, the application of positive pressure to the membrane of the cell culture insert is suppressed, and the cell culture insert can be easily attached and detached. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cell culture vessel 100. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the container body 10. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a side view of the container body 10. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cell culture insert 20. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cover member 30. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. [Figure 9] FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a cell culture vessel 200. [Figure 12A] FIG. 1 is a first explanatory diagram showing a method for assembling the cell culture vessel 200. [Figure 12B] FIG. 2 is a second explanatory view showing a method for assembling the cell culture vessel 200. [Figure 12C] FIG. 3 is a third explanatory view showing a method for assembling the cell culture vessel 200. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a cell culture vessel 200 according to a modified example. [Figure 14] 10 is an explanatory diagram of the flushing of the cover member 30. FIG. [Figure 15] FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a cell culture device 300. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The details of the embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following drawings, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and redundant description will not be repeated.

[0010] (First embodiment) A cell culture vessel according to a first embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a "cell culture vessel 100") will be described.

[0011] <Configuration of cell culture vessel according to the first embodiment> Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a cell culture vessel 100. As shown in Fig. 1, the cell culture vessel 100 includes a vessel body 10, a cell culture insert 20, a cover member 30, an annular member 40, an O-ring 50, and a cover member 60.

[0012] Fig. 2 is a plan view of the container body 10. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a side view of the container body 10. As shown in Figs. 2 to 4, the container body 10 has a bottom wall 11, an upper wall 12, and a side wall 13.

[0013] The bottom wall 11 and the top wall 12 face each other with a gap therebetween. The side wall 13 is continuous with the bottom wall 11 and the top wall 12. The internal space of the container body 10 is defined by the bottom wall 11, the top wall 12, and the side wall 13. A first culture medium 15 is stored inside the container body 10 (see FIG. 1). Electrodes 11a and 11b are embedded in the bottom wall 11. Electrodes 11a and 11b are exposed to the outside of the container body 10. Electrodes 11a and 11b are electrically connected to the first culture medium 15.

[0014] The top wall 12 has a first surface 12a and a second surface 12b. The first surface 12a faces the bottom wall 11. The second surface 12b is the surface opposite to the first surface 12a. A through-hole 12c is formed in the top wall 12. The through-hole 12c penetrates the top wall 12 in the thickness direction and communicates with the internal space of the container body 10. The through-hole 12c is located in the center of the top wall 12 in a plan view.

[0015] The second surface 12b has an inclined surface 12ba. The inclined surface 12ba surrounds the periphery of the through hole 12c in a plan view. That is, the inclined surface 12ba has an annular shape in a plan view. The inclined surface 12ba is inclined such that the distance between the inclined surface 12ba and the first surface 12a decreases as the inclined surface 12ba approaches the through hole 12c.

[0016] The upper wall 12 has standing walls 14. There are multiple standing walls 14. The number of standing walls 14 is, for example, three. The standing walls 14 protrude from the second surface 12b along a direction from the bottom wall 11 toward the upper wall 12. The standing walls 14 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction (along the circumference around the center of the through hole 12c) in a plan view.

[0017] The side wall 13 has a circular ring shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction from the bottom wall 11 to the top wall 12. The side wall 13 has an inner wall surface 13a and an outer wall surface 13b. A groove 13c is formed in the outer wall surface 13b. The outer wall surface 13b is recessed toward the inner wall surface 13a at the groove 13c.

[0018] The groove 13c has a first portion 13ca and a second portion 13cb. The first portion 13ca extends from the upper end (the end on the upper wall 12 side) of the side wall 13 toward the lower end (the end on the bottom wall 11 side) of the side wall 13. The second portion 13cb extends from the lower end of the first portion 13ca in the circumferential direction (along the circumference around the central axis of the side wall 13).

[0019] The container body 10 is composed of, for example, a first member 16 and a second member 17. The first member 16 is composed of a bottom wall 11 and a side wall 13, and the second member 17 is composed of an upper wall 12. The second member 17 has an insertion portion 17a inserted into the side wall 13. The gap between the insertion portion 17a and the side wall 13 (inner wall surface 13a) is airtightly sealed by an O-ring 17b.

[0020] Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cell culture insert 20. Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 5. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the cell culture insert 20 has a cylindrical portion 21, a membrane 22, and a flange portion 23.

[0021] The cylindrical portion 21 has a cylindrical shape. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the direction from the upper end to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 21, the cylindrical portion 21 has, for example, a circular ring shape. The cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the through-hole 12c so that its lower end is located inside the container body 10 (i.e., so that the membrane 22 is located inside the container body 10) (see FIG. 1). There is a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 12c (see FIG. 1).

[0022] A second culture medium 24 is stored inside the cylindrical portion 21 (see FIG. 1). The dissolved oxygen concentration in the second culture medium 24 is lower than the dissolved oxygen concentration in the first culture medium 15. That is, the first culture medium 15 is an aerobic culture medium, and the second culture medium 24 is an anaerobic culture medium. The second culture medium 24 may contain bacteria (e.g., anaerobic bacteria).

[0023] The lower end of the cylindrical portion 21 is closed by a membrane 22. The membrane 22 has a first surface 22a and a second surface 22b. The first surface 22a is the surface facing the inside of the container body 10. The second surface 22b is the surface facing the inside of the cylindrical portion 21 and is the surface opposite to the first surface 22a. From another perspective, part of the internal space of the container body 10 is defined by the first surface 22a, and part of the internal space of the cylindrical portion 21 is defined by the second surface 22b.

[0024] Cells are cultured (seeded) on the second surface 22b. The cells are, for example, intestinal epithelial cells that form tight junctions on the second surface 22b. A specific example of such cells is Caco-2 cells. The membrane 22 is an oxygen-permeable membrane. The membrane 22 is, for example, a track-etched membrane made of polycarbonate. Oxygen in the first culture medium 15 is supplied to the cells cultured on the second surface 22b via the membrane 22.

[0025] The flange portions 23 protrude from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21 on the upper end side of the cylindrical portion 21. There are multiple flange portions 23. The number of flange portions 23 is equal to the number of standing walls 14, for example. The flange portions 23 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction (along the circumference around the central axis of the cylindrical portion 21) in a plan view.

[0026] The flange portion 23 is positioned so as to overlap the standing wall 14 in a plan view, and is supported by the standing wall 14. Movement of the cell culture insert 20 in the direction from the top wall 12 toward the bottom wall 11 is restricted by the flange portion 23 being supported by the standing wall 14.

[0027] The lid member 30 is inserted into the tubular portion 21 from the upper end side thereof (see FIG. 1). FIG. 7 is a plan view of the lid member 30. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the lid member 30 has a first surface 30a and a second surface 30b. The first surface 30a faces the interior of the tubular portion 21. The second surface 30b is the surface opposite to the first surface 30a. The lid member 30 is made of a flexible material. The lid member 30 is made of, for example, silicone rubber.

[0028] The lid member 30 has through holes 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f formed therein. The through holes 30c, 30d, 30e, and 30f pass through the lid member 30 in a direction from the second surface 30b toward the first surface 30a and communicate with the internal space of the cylindrical portion 21. An electrode 31 and an electrode 32 are inserted into the through holes 30c and 30d, respectively. The electrode 31 and the electrode 32 are electrically connected to the second culture medium 24.

[0029] 1, the annular member 40 has an annular (for example, circular) shape. The cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the annular member 40. The annular member 40 is located above the inclined surface 12ba.

[0030] The O-ring 50 has an annular (for example, circular) shape. The tubular portion 21 is inserted into the O-ring 50. The O-ring 50 is located closer to the lower end of the tubular portion 21 than the annular member 40. The O-ring 50 is sandwiched between the inclined surface 12ba and the annular member 40. This hermetically seals the internal space of the container body 10.

[0031] FIG. 9 is a plan view of the lid member 60. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 9. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the lid member 60 has, for example, a circular shape in plan view. The lid member 60 has a side wall 61 and an upper wall 62. The side wall 61 has an inner wall surface 61a. The upper wall 62 is continuous with the upper end of the side wall 61. A through hole 62a is formed in the upper wall 62. The through hole 62a penetrates the upper wall 62 along the thickness direction. When the lid member 60 is attached to the container body 10, the second surface 30b of the lid member 30 is exposed from the through hole 62a.

[0032] The cover member 60 has claw portions 63. The claw portions 63 protrude from the inner wall surface 61a along the radial direction (along a direction perpendicular to the central axis of the side wall 61). There are multiple claw portions 63. In a plan view, the claw portions 63 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction (along the circumference around the central axis of the side wall 61). The claw portions 63 are arranged in positions that do not overlap with the flange portion 23 and the standing wall 14 in a plan view.

[0033] When the lid member 60 is attached to the container body 10, the claws 63 are in contact with the annular member 40 (see FIG. 1). That is, the annular member 40 is pressed against the O-ring 50 in the direction from the top wall 12 toward the bottom wall 11. As a result, the O-ring 50 receives a reaction force from the inclined surface 12ba and deforms, thereby airtightly sealing the internal space of the container body 10.

[0034] A protrusion 61b is provided on an inner wall surface 61a at the lower end side of the side wall 61. The protrusion 61b is inserted into the groove 13c (specifically, the second portion 13cb). In this way, the lid member 60 is attached to the container body 10.

[0035] <Method for assembling cell culture vessel according to the first embodiment> In assembling the cell culture vessel 100, first, the vessel body 10 is prepared. Second, the cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the annular member 40 and the O-ring 50. At this time, the O-ring 50 is positioned closer to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 21 than the annular member 40. Third, the cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the through-hole 12c. At this time, the cell culture insert 20 is positioned so that the flange portion 23 is supported by the standing wall 14 in a plan view. Fourth, the lid member 60 is attached to the vessel body 10.

[0036] When attaching the lid member 60, first, the lid member 60 is aligned so that the protrusion 61b is inserted into the upper end side of the first portion 13ca. Second, the lid member 60 is pressed down in the direction from the top wall 12 to the bottom wall 11 until the protrusion 61b reaches the lower end of the first portion 13ca. As a result, the claws 63 come into contact with the annular member 40 and are pressed against the O-ring 50 in the direction from the top wall 12 to the bottom wall 11. Third, the lid member 60 is rotated around the central axis of the side wall 61, thereby inserting the protrusion 61b into the second portion 13cb. In this manner, the lid member 60 is attached to the container body 10.

[0037] When disassembling the cell culture vessel 100, the above assembly procedure can be carried out in reverse order.

[0038] <Effects of the cell culture vessel according to the first embodiment> In the cell culture vessel 100, the annular member 40 presses the O-ring 50 against the inclined surface 12ba, thereby airtightly sealing the inside of the vessel body 10. Furthermore, in the cell culture vessel 100, the cell culture insert 20 can be removed from the vessel body 10 by releasing the annular member 40 from pressing against the O-ring 50. In this way, the cell culture vessel 100 makes it easy to attach and detach the cell culture insert.

[0039] In the cell culture vessel 100, there is a gap between the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the through-hole 12c, so that positive pressure is unlikely to be applied to the membrane 22 when the cylindrical portion 21 is inserted into the through-hole 12c.

[0040] Furthermore, in the cell culture vessel 100, movement of the cell culture insert 20 in the direction from the top wall 12 toward the bottom wall 11 is restricted, so the cell culture insert 20 is unlikely to move when the annular member 40 is pressed against the O-ring 50. As a result, positive pressure is unlikely to be applied to the membrane 22 when the inside of the vessel body 10 is airtightly sealed.

[0041] In this way, according to the cell culture vessel 100, the application of positive pressure to the membrane 22 can be suppressed, and the cell culture insert 20 can be easily attached and detached.

[0042] (Second embodiment) A cell culture vessel according to a second embodiment (hereinafter referred to as a "cell culture vessel 200") will be described. Here, differences from the cell culture vessel 100 will be mainly described, and overlapping descriptions will not be repeated.

[0043] <Configuration of cell culture vessel according to second embodiment> 11 is a cross-sectional view of the cell culture vessel 200. As shown in FIG. 11, the cell culture vessel 200 has a vessel body 10, a cell culture insert 20, a cover member 30, and an O-ring 50. In this respect, the configuration of the cell culture vessel 200 is common to the configuration of the cell culture vessel 100.

[0044] The cell culture vessel 200 does not have an annular member 40. The cell culture vessel 200 has a lid member 70 instead of the lid member 60. A recess 30aa that is recessed toward the second surface 30b is formed on the first surface 30a of the lid member 30. A through-hole 12d is formed in the upper wall 12. An inclined surface 12ba is not formed around the through-hole 12c. In these respects, the configuration of the cell culture vessel 200 differs from the configuration of the cell culture vessel 100. However, an inclined surface 12ba may be formed around the through-hole 12c.

[0045] The lid member 70 has a side wall 71, an upper wall 72, and a pressing portion 73. The lid member 70 is attached to the container body 10. More specifically, the lid member 70 is attached to the container body 10 by being engaged with the standing wall 14 at the lower end side of the side wall 71.

[0046] The upper wall 72 is continuous with the upper end of the side wall 71. A through-hole 72a is formed in the upper wall 72. The cover member 30 can be inserted into the cell culture insert 20 through the through-hole 72a.

[0047] The pressing portion 73 is provided on the inner wall surface of the upper wall 72. The pressing portion 73 extends toward the O-ring 50. When the lid member 70 is attached to the container body 10, the pressing portion 73 presses the O-ring 50 toward the upper wall 12. This closes the gap between the through-hole 12c and the cell culture insert 20.

[0048] The through-hole 12d communicates with the internal space of the container body 10. The inner diameter of the through-hole 12d is set so that the tip of a pipette tip can be inserted therein. The inner diameter of the through-hole 12d is, for example, 1 mm or more. There are multiple through-holes 12d. However, the number of through-holes 12d may be one, or may be three or more.

[0049] The lid member 70 is provided with an elastic member 74. The elastic member 74 is provided on the inside of the lid member 70. More specifically, the elastic member 74 is provided on the lower end side of the inner wall surface of the side wall 71. The elastic member 74 is arranged so as to close the through-hole 12d when the lid member 70 is attached to the container body 10.

[0050] <Method for assembling cell culture vessel according to the first embodiment> Fig. 12A is a first explanatory diagram showing a method for assembling the cell culture vessel 200. As shown in Fig. 12A, in assembling the cell culture vessel 200, first, the cell culture insert 20 is inserted through the through-hole 12c into the vessel body 10, which has the first culture medium 15 filled therein so that the cell culture insert 20 does not touch the first culture medium 15.

[0051] 12B is a second explanatory diagram showing a method for assembling the cell culture vessel 200. As shown in FIG. 12B, in the second step of assembling the cell culture vessel 200, the first culture medium 15 is added to the inside of the vessel body 10 through one of the through-holes 12d using a pipette tip or the like. At this time, air inside the vessel body 10 is released to the outside through the other through-holes 12d.

[0052] 12C is a third explanatory view showing a method of assembling the cell culture vessel 200. As shown in FIG. 12C, in the third step of assembling the cell culture vessel 200, the lid member 70 is attached to the vessel body 10. As a result, the O-ring 50 is pressed against the upper wall 12 by the pressing portion 73, and the gap between the through-hole 12c and the cell culture insert 20 is closed.

[0053] Thereafter, the cover member 30 is inserted into the cell culture insert 20, thereby completing the assembly of the cell culture vessel 200 having the structure shown in Fig. 11. When disassembling the cell culture vessel 200, the above steps can be carried out in reverse order.

[0054] <Effects of the cell culture vessel according to the first embodiment> When assembling the cell culture vessel 200, the cell culture insert 20 is inserted into the vessel body 10 when the amount of first culture medium 15 stored inside the vessel body 10 is low, and then the first culture medium 15 is replenished into the vessel body 10 through the through-hole 12d. Therefore, positive pressure is unlikely to be applied to the membrane 22 when the cell culture insert 20 is inserted. After the cover member 70 is attached, the through-hole 12d is blocked by the elastic member 74, ensuring airtightness inside the vessel body 10.

[0055] Furthermore, in the cell culture vessel 200, by attaching the cover member 70 to the vessel body 10, the pressing portion 73 presses the O-ring 50 against the upper wall 12, closing the gap between the through-hole 12c and the cell culture insert 20. Therefore, when the cover member 70 is detached from the vessel body 10, the cell culture insert 20 can be easily attached to and detached from the vessel body 10.

[0056] In this way, according to the cell culture vessel 200, the application of positive pressure to the membrane 22 can be suppressed, and the cell culture insert 20 can be easily attached and detached.

[0057] <Modification> Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a modified cell culture vessel 200. As shown in Fig. 13, the cell culture vessel 200 may further include a cover member 80 and an O-ring 90. The cover member 80 includes a side wall 81 and an upper wall 82.

[0058] A screw groove 81a is formed on the inner wall surface of the side wall 81. A screw thread 13ba is formed on the outer wall surface 13b. The lid member 80 is attached to the container body 10 by screwing the screw groove 81a into the screw thread 13ba. This screwing is performed by rotating the lid member 80 around its central axis relative to the container body 10. The central axis of the lid member 80 is aligned in a direction perpendicular to the main surfaces (first surface 22a and second surface 22b) of the membrane 22.

[0059] The top wall 82 is continuous with the upper end of the side wall 81. A recess 82a is formed in the outer wall surface of the top wall 82 (the upper surface of the lid member 80). The gap between the inner wall surface of the side wall 81 and the outer wall surface of the side wall 813 is airtightly sealed by an O-ring 90.

[0060] 12A to 12C is preferably assembled in an anaerobic chamber. Before this assembly, the cell culture vessel 200 is placed in the anterior chamber of the anaerobic chamber. This anterior chamber is in a reduced pressure environment. If this reduced pressure acts on the membrane 22, the layer of cells seeded on the membrane 22 may be damaged.

[0061] However, when the cell culture vessel 200 has the cover member 80, the interior of the cover member 80 becomes a closed space, and therefore the above-described reduced pressure does not affect the membrane 22. In this way, when the cell culture vessel 200 has the cover member 80, damage to the cell layer on the membrane 22 can be suppressed prior to assembly of the cell culture vessel 200 in the anaerobic chamber.

[0062] 12A to 12C, it is necessary to remove the cover member 80 inside the anaerobic chamber. This removal is performed in an environment where work is restricted, such as inside the anaerobic chamber. However, because the cover member 80 is attached to the vessel body 10 using a screw mechanism, it can be easily removed even in an environment where work is restricted.

[0063] The recess 82a formed on the upper surface of the lid member 80 can be used as a place to temporarily place the lid member 30 when assembling the cell culture vessel 200. Figure 14 is an explanatory diagram of flushing of the lid member 30. Before inserting the lid member 30 into the cell culture insert 20, the lid member 30 is flushed (i.e., the air inside the recess 30aa, through-holes 30c, and through-holes 30d is replaced with the second culture medium 24). As shown in Figure 14, the lid member 80 can be used as a base for this flushing.

[0064] (Configuration of the cell culture device according to the third embodiment) The configuration of the cell culture device according to the third embodiment (hereinafter referred to as "cell culture device 300") will be described below.

[0065] Fig. 15 is a schematic diagram of a cell culture device 300. As shown in Fig. 15, the cell culture device 300 includes a cell culture vessel 100, culture medium containers 310 and 320, tubes 330 and 340, a pump 350, and a transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device 370. However, the cell culture device 300 may include a cell culture vessel 200 instead of the cell culture vessel 100.

[0066] The cell culture container 100, medium containers 310 and 320, tubes 330 and 340, pump 350, and transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device 370 are arranged in an anaerobic chamber 380 (shown by dotted lines in the figure).

[0067] The culture medium container 310 stores the second culture medium 24 to be supplied to the inside of the cylindrical portion 21, and the culture medium container 320 stores the second culture medium 24 discharged from the inside of the cylindrical portion 21.

[0068] One end of the tube 330 is connected to the culture medium container 310, and the other end is connected to the inside of the cylindrical portion 21. The other end of the tube 330 is inserted into the through-hole 30e (see FIG. 1). One end of the tube 340 is connected to the inside of the cylindrical portion 21, and the other end is connected to the culture medium container 320. The other end of the tube 340 is inserted into the through-hole 30f (see FIG. 1).

[0069] The pump 350 is disposed on the path of the tube 330. The pump 350 is, for example, a tube pump.

[0070] By driving the pump 350, the second culture medium 24 stored in the culture medium container 310 is supplied to the inside of the cylindrical portion 21 through the tube 330. Also, by driving the pump 350, the second culture medium 24 stored inside the cylindrical portion 21 is discharged through the tube 340 to the culture medium container 320. In this way, by driving the pump 350, the second culture medium 24 stored inside the cylindrical portion 21 is replaced.

[0071] The transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device 370 is electrically connected to the electrodes 11a and 11b, and also to the electrodes 31 and 32. The transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device 370 measures the electrical resistance values between the electrodes 11a and 11b and the electrodes 31 and 32 by, for example, a four-terminal method.

[0072] The electrical resistance value between electrodes 11a and 11b and electrodes 31 and 32 changes depending on whether or not the cells cultured on second surface 22b have formed tight junctions. Therefore, by monitoring the electrical resistance value using transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device 370, it is possible to monitor whether or not the cells cultured on second surface 22b have formed tight junctions.

[0073] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above-described embodiments can be modified in various ways. Furthermore, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of the claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10 container body, 11 bottom wall, 11a, 11b electrode, 12 upper wall, 12a first surface, 12b second surface, 12ba inclined surface, 12c through hole, 13 side wall, 13a inner wall surface, 13b outer wall surface, 13ba thread, 13c groove, 13ca first portion, 13cb second portion, 13d through hole, 14 standing wall, 15 first culture medium, 16 first member, 17 second member, 17a insertion portion, 17b O-ring, 20 cell culture insert, 21 cylindrical portion, 22 membrane, 22a first surface, 22b second surface, 23 flange portion, 24 second culture medium, 30 lid member, 30a first surface, 30aa recess, 30b second surface, 30c, 30d, 30e, 30f Through-hole, 31, 32 electrode, 40 annular member, 50 O-ring, 60 cover member, 61 side wall, 61a inner wall surface, 61b convex portion, 62 upper wall, 62a through-hole, 63 claw portion, 70 cover member, 71 side wall, 72 upper wall, 72a through-hole, 73 pressing portion, 74 elastic member, 80 cover member, 81 side wall, 81a screw groove, 82 upper wall, 82a recess, 90 O-ring, 100, 200 cell culture vessel, 300 cell culture device, 310, 320 medium container, 330, 340 tube, 350 pump, 370 transepithelial electrical resistance measuring device, 380 anaerobic chamber.

Claims

1. an insert member having a cylindrical portion and a membrane on which cells are seeded, the insert member being located at a lower end of the cylindrical portion, and defining a first internal space for storing a second culture medium; 1. A container having a first bottom wall, a first top wall, and a first side wall, said container comprising: (a) storing a first culture medium having a dissolved oxygen concentration higher than that of the second culture medium in a second internal space defined by the first bottom wall, the first upper wall, and the first side wall; (b) a through hole having an inner diameter larger than an outer diameter of the cylindrical portion is formed in the first upper wall; (c) an upwardly facing surface of the first upper wall has an inclined surface that surrounds the periphery of the through hole and inclines downward as it approaches the through hole; (d) the container, wherein a groove having a first portion extending downward from the top of the container and a second portion extending circumferentially from a position lower than the top end of the first portion is formed in the outer peripheral surface of the first side wall; a sealing member that contacts the inclined surface and closes a gap that exists between an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion and an inner peripheral surface of the through hole; a transmission mechanism that transmits force to the seal member; a cover member having a second upper wall and a second side wall, the second side wall having a convex portion formed on an inner wall surface thereof; A cell culture vessel in which a force is transmitted from the transmission mechanism to the sealing member when the convex portion moves from top to bottom over the first portion in the groove, and the second internal space is hermetically sealed when the convex portion moves in a direction away from the first portion in the groove.

2. the sealing member is an O-ring, The transmission mechanism includes: an annular member; The cell culture vessel according to claim 1 , further comprising a pressing portion provided on the cover member, the pressing portion pressing the annular member against the O-ring when the cover member is fixed to the vessel.

3. the insert member has a flange portion that protrudes from the outer circumferential surface of the cylindrical portion at the upper end of the cylindrical portion, The cell culture vessel according to claim 1 , wherein the first upper wall includes a standing wall that protrudes from an upwardly facing surface of the first upper wall so as to support the flange portion.

4. The cell culture vessel according to claim 1 ; a culture medium management unit configured to aspirate and discharge the culture medium contained in at least one of the first internal space and the second internal space, The cell culture device, wherein the cells seeded on the membrane are intestinal epithelial cells.

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