IMMUNIZATION OF MOUSE SPLEEN-CELL CULTURES IN THE ABSENCE OF SERUM AND ITS PROTEINS USING SIO2 AND 2-MERCAPTOETHANOL

Abstract

High recoveries of mouse plaque-forming cells (PFC) were obtained in a serum-free medium using 2-mercaptoethanol and SiO2. Under such conditions an increase in the number of PFC occurred after 4-5 days of incubation as compared with cultures with fetal calf serum. The addition of glutathione to the medium had a stimulating effect, but it was not absolutely necessary for a positive response. The PFC recovery was strongly influenced by an interdependence of cell density and amount of SiO2 gel particles.