Influence of Type and Level of Gas Environment on Anterior Pituitary Lactogen Production in vitro. ∗

Abstract

Summary

Anterior pituitary explants from rats, cultured in vitro in the chemically defined Mixture 199 for 3 days, were capable of synthesizing and releasing into the medium 6 to 8 times more lactogen than initially introduced into the culture system. Lactogen production and cellular viability were dependent upon the gas environment and a 95% O₂–5% CO₂ gas mixture at a flow of either 150 or 300 cc/min was optimum. A pure O₂ environment did not support lactogen production and appeared to be toxic to anterior pituitary tissue. Culturing AP in air resulted in half the lactogen production noted for AP in 95% O₂–5% CO₂ and tissue survival was poor.