Abstract
Summary
The growth characteristics of Novikoff hepatoma cells can be altered by varying the amount of albumin or by altering the ratio of certain long-chain fatty acids:albumin in the growth medium.
(i) When the concentration of albumin in the growth medium was increased to 0.22 mM, the rate of cell proliferation was reduced by about 20%.
(ii) The growth rate of the cells remained unaltered even when the concentration of oleic acid (9-18:1) was increased to 0.49 mM or when the 9-18:1: albumin ratio was increased to 9:1.
(iii) The rate of cell multiplication was significantly reduced when the concentration of petroselinic acid (6-18:1) in the medium was increased to 0.33 mM at a 6-18:l:albumin ratio of 6:1. Provided that the level of albumin in the growth medium was increased to 0.18 mM, the concentration of 6-18:1 could be increased to 0.71 mM without affecting cell production.
(iv) When the concentration of stearic acid (18:0) in the growth medium was increased to 0.35 mM and the ratio of 18:0:albumin was kept at 6:1, there was a large reduction in cell numbers which could be only partially reversed by increasing the concentration of albumin in the growth medium.
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