To establish a suitable control for pancreatic tumor cell lines, we have isolated and cultured primary human pancreatic duct cells from transplant donors. Duct cells were isolated by dissecting the main pancreatic duct and first-degree branches and enzymatic digestion. Aggregates of cells were cultured for 1 up to 5 weeks and monitored for changes in morphology and growth by phase contrast microscopy. Contaminating fibroblasts were mechanically removed from day 4 on and by cloning of epithelial cells. Cultured cells were characterized by phase contrast microscopy, electron microscopy, and immunofluorescence with antibodies against intermediate filaments (cytokeratins, vimentin, desmin), mucins (Du-Pan-2, CA 19-9), carbonic anhydrase II, acinar cell enzymes (amylase, lipase, trypsin), and islet cells. About 90% of the cultured cells could be identified as ductal epithelial cells by their expression of cytokeratins, mucins, and carbonic anhydrase II. These cells showed the ultrastructural features of duct cells. After 3-5 weeks of culture, most of the cultured cells showed co-expression of cytokeratins and vimentin in addition to duct cell markers. About 10% of cells were contaminating fibroblasts (vimentin positive, cytokeratin negative). The cultured normal human duct cells as the postulated cells of origin of the pancreatic adenocarcinoma may serve as a useful control for cultured pancreatic tumor cell lines.