Growth of human foreskin fibroblasts in a serum‐free, defined medium without platelet‐derived growth factor

Abstract

The hormones which support growth, in vitro, of normal, neonatal human foreskin fibroblasts were determined. Wheresas thrombin and hydrocortisone were major growth stimulants, platelet-derived growth factor was not. Human foreskin fibroblasts grew in a serum-free, biochemically defined medium consisting of epidermal growth factor (100 ng/ml), insulin (100 ng/ml), trasferrin (10 μg/ml), thrombin (1 μg/ml), ascorbic acid (10 μg/ml), and hydrocortisone (5 × 10⁻⁵M) in a 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F-12, supplemented with ovalbumin (1 mg/ml) and trace elements. The growth achieved was comparable to that achieved with 5% fetal bovine serum. Neither platelet-derived growth factor, fibroblst growth factor, nor somatomedin activity increased proliferation. This serum-free medium designated Defined Medium F, provides a biochemically defined system for growth and limited subcultivation of human foreskin fibroblasts in vitro.