Influence of Oxygen and Culture Media on Plating Efficiency of Some Mammalian Tissue Cells

Abstract

In an effort to develop more nearly optimal conditions for the growth of single non-neoplastic cells in vitro, we examined the influence of certain physicochemical factors on plating efficiency of freshly explented cells and cells in long- and short-term culture. Both neoplastic and non-neoplastic cells from fetal tissues of mice and also from 1 rat have equal or better plating efficiencies at low oxygen tension (1–3% O₂) than under a gas phase containing air (20% O₂). Of 3 culture media examined, Richters Improved MEM zinc option proved most efficient; Dulbecco-Vogt's modification of Eagle's medium ranked second; NCTC 135 was last. Differences in response of various cell types to these 3 media and to varying concentrations of fetal bovine serum were noted. Certain considerations about oxygen concentrations that may inhibit survival and growth of cells in culture were discussed.