title: Parameters affecting ascites tumour formation in mice and monoclonal antibody production.
abstract: Hybridoma cells injected intraperitoneally into mice induce formation of ascites tumours and production of ascites fluid containing high levels of monoclonal antibody. Several parameters affecting the growth of the immunoglobulin-producing tumours have been studied in order to define optimal conditions for ascitic fluid formation and monoclonal antibody production. Using hybridomas produced by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with immunized mouse spleen cells we have shown: (1) that the optimal number of hybridoma cells required to induce an ascites tumour was between 6 and 32 X 10(5) cells; (2) that each mouse should be treated with a maximum of 0.5 ml of pristane; (3) that the priming period for pristane should be 14 days prior to the injection of cells; (4) that ascites formation and monoclonal antibody production is significantly better in males; and finally (5) that the age of mice used should range between 43 and 78 days. Under these conditions each mouse produces on average 7-10 ml of ascites fluid, containing a high level of antibody, over a maximum period of 6 days. The animals should start producing between the 5th and 9th day and usually survive 11-16 days after being injected with the tumour cells.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D001201:Ascites / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006825:Hybridomas / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D007700:Kinetics; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D012737:Sex Factors; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D013729:Terpenes; C009042:pristane