An absolute requirement for 2-mercaptoethanol in the in vitro primary immune response in the absence of serum.
Using a serum-free medium, high recoveries of plaque-forming cells (PFCs) were obtained up to 5 days of incubation in  the in vitro primary immune response. Under these conditions, the presence in the medium of 2-mercaptoethanol was an absolute requirement. In order to obtain maximal recoveries of PFCs, the antigen and 2-mercaptoethanol had to be present from the start of the culture, while the addition of fetuin could be delayed for 24 h without any loss of PFCs. The 2-mercaptoethanol could be replaced by (dialysed) human serum.
D000818:Animals; D000917:Antibody Formation / Q000187:drug effects; D000941:Antigens; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D006462:Hemolytic Plaque Technique; D008623:Mercaptoethanol / Q000276:immunology* / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D013997:Time Factors; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins / Q000276:immunology
D000941:Antigens; D003470:Culture Media; D000509:alpha-Fetoproteins; D008623:Mercaptoethanol