title: The use of mouse serum and the presence of non-adherent cells for the culture of mouse macrophages.
abstract: Mouse serum (MS) was investigated as an alternative to fetal calf serum (FCS) as a medium supplement for the culture of murine macrophages. Peritoneal macrophages were successfully cultured in medium supplemented with 1-20% MS and were able to produce superoxide anions in response to stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) and to phagocytose antibody-coated erythrocytes effectively. Macrophages cultured in the presence of 5% or 20% FCS showed a generally augmented response to PMA, raising the possibility that they had been 'primed' by constituents or contaminants of FCS. Lipopolysaccharide-elicited macrophages initially showed vigorous in vitro responses to PMA which decreased with increasing culture time in MS-supplemented medium. This 'de-differentiation' of elicited macrophages could be due to the absence of LPS contamination and foreign protein when autologous serum is used as a medium supplement. In all cultures the presence of non-adherent cells for the first 24 h increased the number and superoxide response of adherent cells. MS is a convenient, reliable and inexpensive alternative to FCS as a medium supplement for murine macrophage cultures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Godfrey Huggins School of Medicine, Harare, Zimbabwe.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Grace
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Guthrie
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Johnston
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005260:Female; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / Q000378:metabolism; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000201:enzymology / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D010529:Peritoneal Cavity; D010587:Phagocytosis
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D007770:L-Lactate Dehydrogenase