The effect of the oxidation-reduction potential of the medium on the growth of tissue cultures

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Abstract
Cultures of chick embryo heart tissue were made in a film of plasma on coverslips, and were immersed in a medium composed of Tyrode solution, fowl serum and chick embryo extract. The beaker containing medium and cultures was closed by a rubber bung carrying Pt and Au electrodes, agar bridge, and gas inlet and outlet tubes, and was placed in an incubator at 37[degree] C. A current of N containing a small quantity of O was passed through the medium, and the 0 content adjusted to maintain the potential of the electrodes constant at some level between[long dash]120 and[long dash]100mv. After about 48 hrs. under these conditions the cultures were examined and compared with control cultures. Some inhibition of the activity of the cultures was evident at Ek=[long dash]120mv., but mitosis was still occurring. Mitosis was not observed when the Eh had been reduced to between +20 and[long dash]30mv., and migration of cells had almost entirely ceased at Eh=[long dash]30mv. The possibility of the Eh of the medium being an important factor in the cell environment, independently of the 0 tension, is discussed.

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