Mammalian Cell Culture : The Use of Serum-Free Hormone-Supplemented Media

The advantages of obtaining a completely defined environment for the growth of cells in vitro were recognized very early in the history of cell culture (Lewis and Lewis, 1911). Continued interest in the nutritional requirements of cells in vitro and in providing an optimal environment for cells led to the development of the complex nutrient mixtures available today in many media (Waymouth, 1972; Ham, 1965). However, serum remained an essential component of medium for the growth of most cell types in culture. The question of what factor (or factors) in serum was essential for cell growth and survival remained unanswered for several decades. Initially, experiments were designed to purify the "active component" of serum for the growth of cells in culture. These experiments identified fetuin (Fisher et at., 1958) and nonsuppressible insulinlike activity (Temin et at., 1972) as important components of serum. However, the complexity of serum and the very low levels of active components in serum hindered progress in identi­ fying and isolating serum factors. Front Matter....Pages i-xvii Serum Factor Requirements for the Initiation of Cellular Proliferation....Pages 1-15 Regulation of Fibroblast Growth by Multiple Growth Factors in Serum-Free Media....Pages 17-52 Growth and Differentiation of Preadipocyte Cell Lines in Serum-Free Medium....Pages 53-75 Growth and Differentiation of Human Myelomonocytic Leukemia Cell Lines in Serum-Free Medium....Pages 77-101 In Vitro Immunization and Growth of Hybridomas in Serum-Free Medium....Pages 103-128 Kidney Cell Cultures in Hormonally Defined Serum-Free Medium....Pages 129-150 Rat Hepatocytes in Culture....Pages 151-166 Intratesticular Regulation....Pages 167-193 Attachment Factors in Cell Culture....Pages 195-237 Cell Culture Studies Using Extracts of Extracellular Matrix to Study Growth and Differentiation in Mammalian Cells....Pages 239-280 Back Matter....Pages 281-284