A new culture medium for tissues grown in vitro.

Abstract

Harrison 1 demonstrated the growth of embryonic amphibian nerve tissue in the clotted lymph obtained from an adult frog. Burrows 2 demonstrated the growth of embryonic chick tissue in blood plasma obtained from the adult hen. In most of the experiments with tissue cultures since that time the blood plasma of various animals has been utilized either alone or in combination with certain tissue extracts as a culture medium. Some investigators, notably W. H. and M. R. Lewis, have used saline solutions, such as the Locke-Lewis solution, as a culture medium.

We have recently found that the peritoneal exudate of certain animals affords a culture medium which, in the experiments thus far made, gives evidence of being superior to any medium heretofore used. In the first place, this exudate apparently affords a more natural environment for the living tissues, with a corresponding increase in cell activity and length of survival in vitro. Also, the method of obtaining the exudate is comparatively simple. In the case of the frog, a considerable amount (about 0.5 cc.) may usually be secured from an anesthetized animal by drawing up the fluid from near the posterior end of the peritoneal cavity with a fine sterile pipette. In the case of the guinea pig, the animal is fastened to a board, and the exudate then secured by means of a capillary pipette inserted through the ventral surface of the body wall. The tip of the pipette should just barely reach into the peritoneal cavity. Suction is applied by the operator through a rubber tube attached to the pipette. The same animal may be used repeatedly for securing the exudate, and it apparently is very little disturbed by the operation.