The human rectum is located in the lower gastrointestinal tract and functions as a temporary storage site for fecal material. Rectal fibroblasts are important structural components of the rectum and are implicated in a number of diseases including ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s disease, and rectal cancer. Fibroblasts are mesenchymal cells derived from the embryonic mesoderm. The main functions of fibroblasts are to maintain the structural integrity of connective tissue and to aid in tissue repair and remodeling. Studies have shown that functional changes to human rectal fibroblasts (HRecF) can impair wound healing and affect epithelial cell proliferation in ulcerative colitis patients. In Crohn’s disease, HRecF respond to intestinal inflammation by proliferating abnormally, which leads to fibrotic scarring. Primary HRecF can be used to study the pathophysiology of rectal cancer, ulcerative colitis, and Crohn’s disease and to help develop therapies for these diseases. HRecF from ScienCell Research Laboratories are isolated from human rectum. HRecF are cryopreserved at passage one and delivered frozen. Each vial contains >5 x 105 cells in 1 ml volume. HRecF are characterized by immunofluorescence with antibody specific to fibronectin. HRecF are negative for mycoplasma, bacteria, yeast, and fungi. HRecF are guaranteed to further expand for 15 population doublings under the conditions provided by ScienCell Research Laboratories. Recommended Medium It is recommended to use Fibroblast Medium (FM, Cat. #2301) for culturing HRecF in vitro.