Effects of Gases upon Cell Growth

Introduction Previous work involving the effects of different gaseous environments on the growth of explants of human lens epithelium has indicated that although best growth was obtained with the use of air, some growth could occur in an atmosphere of nitrogen (Mamo and Leinfelder, 1958). It was found that air was more favorable to growth of these explants than was an atmosphere of 95% air +5% CO2, a mixture commonly employed in maintaining cultures containing a bicarbonate buffer system. With the isolation of a strain of human lens epithelium, it became feasible by direct count to quantitate the effects of various gaseous environments on the growth of these cells (Leinfelder and Meltzer, 1958). Evaluation of the effects of different oxygen tensions on these cells would seem of special import considering the fact that lens epithelium has been indicated to have strictly aerobic type of metabolism (Kinsey and Frohman, 1951).