METABOLIC CROWDING EFFECT IN SUSPENSION OF CULTURED LYMPHOCYTES

  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 50  (2) , 337-346
Abstract
The respiration and glucose utilization of suspensions of cultured lymphocytes [cell line 4098 (human) and L1210 cells (mouse lymphoma] were studied. Respiration was measured by a couloximetric method using closed systems without a gas-suspension interface. The sensitivity of the method allowed measurements during a time interval of less than 1 h. The respiration of lymphocytes was strongly density dependent over the range of 108-103 cells/ml. O2 utilization per cell increased 100-fold with 1000-fold dilution of the cell suspension. Glucose utilization showed little density dependence. The phenomenon was apparently not due to nutrient depletion, pH shifts, accumulation of lactic acid, nor damage of cells during the dilution. Since in those experiments a gas-liquid interface was absent, the previously suggested explanation of gas diffusion as a limiting factor was excluded. The experiment was best explained by regulation of respiration by humoral factors produced by the cell suspension.