Basic fibroblast growth factor and insulinlike growth factor I support the growth of human septal chondrocytes in a serum-free environment.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if insulinlike growth factor I (IGF-I) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), individually or in combination, support the growth and viability of human septal chondrocytes in a serum-free medium (SFM) and a serum-enhanced culture medium.


METHODS
Chondrocytes were recovered from enzymatically digested human septal cartilage and were plated for monolayer culture in a newly developed medium. The medium included Dulbecco modified Eagle medium mixed 1:1 with Ham F12 medium and a supplement of known amounts of 2 growth factors-bFGF (100 ng/mL) and IGF-I (100 ng/mL)-used in combination and separately.


RESULTS
The combination of IGF-I and bFGF enhanced chondrocyte growth and maintained a high degree of viability in SFM and 10% fetal calf serum. After an initial lag, the SFM, augmented with both growth factors, produced a comparable number of viable cells (4.25+/-0.31 x 10(4)) to that of the medium with 10% fetal calf serum (4.64+/-0.35 x 10(4)) by the seventh day of the experiment. Combined with the 2 growth factors, 10% fetal calf serum provided the greatest proliferation by the end of the experiment. However, the overall mean cell counts for the IGF-I- and bFGF-enhanced SFM were not statistically different.


CONCLUSIONS
The combination of IGF-I and bFGF in a serum-free and a serum-supplemented environment supports the growth and viability of human septal chondrocytes in short-term culture. In an SFM, the results obtained approximate those produced in a medium enhanced with 10% fetal calf serum.
Dunham
B P
BP
Division of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Calif 94305-5328, USA.
Koch
R J
RJ
D018929:Cell Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009300:Nasal Septum
D004338:Drug Combinations; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D007334:Insulin-Like Growth Factor I