Autoclavable low cost serum‐free cell culture media. The growth of L Cells and BHK cells on peptones

The growth of L‐929 cells on a series of peptones, and protein hydrolysates was examined, and it was found that when MEM was supplemented with any of a series of peptones, cell growth was about as good as when serum was used as a supplement. Protein hydrolysates did not support cell growth very well and at higher concentrations actually reduced cell growth. L‐929 and L‐60TM cells were grown both as monolayers or stationary suspensions and in agitated systems in MEM supplemented with 0.5—1% bactopeptone. The addition of macromolecular compounds, insulin or oleic acid had no effect on cell growth. BHK cells were also grown on media supplemented with bactopeptone but richer media (MEM‐alpha, F‐12, or RMPI1640) gave higher cell yields. The cells did not form the monolayers observed with fetal calf serum, but a partial suspension system. Addition of a detergent Darvan #2 gave a totally suspension culture in both stationary and agitated systems. The production of Sindbis virus in BHK cells grown in serum‐free media was examined and the yield of virus was found to be about the same as that produced in serum‐supplemented systems. It is estimated that the cost of cell production media could be reduced by about 90% by the replacement of serum supplement by peptones.