Patent ID: 6372493
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A61K,C12N,C12P,G01N

Abstract:
A method for establishing, maintaining and propagating a cell culture of gonadotrophin-secreting human pituitary tumor cells in vitro comprising the steps of:a) selecting at least one human pituitary tumor cell having gonadotrophin-secreting potential from a population of similar cells having gonadotrophin-secreting potential, b) placing said cell or cells in an establishing medium comprising: (i) a basal medium comprising essential minerals, salts, vitamins, amino acids, and lipids; (ii) a buffering system; (iii) glutamine in the amount of about 6.18 mM to about 8.36 mM; (iv) pyruvate; (v) niacinamide; (vi) myo-Inositol; and (vii) supplements of a fibroblast growth factor, an epidermal growth factor, insulin, ethanolamine, selenium, transferrin and hydrocortisone, â€ƒsaid establishing medium promoting the viability and proliferation of said cell or cells for at least about 13 days in vitro, and c) maintaining the viability of at least one of said cells or the progeny of said cell for at least about 15 days in vitro wherein said viable cell secretes or viable cells secrete at least 4.04 mIU of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)/ml establishing medium or at least 11.3 mIU of luteinizing hormone (LH)/ml establishing medium over a 10-day synthesis time in a substantially estrogen free culture.