Journal of Cell Science, Vol 4, 25-37, Copyright © 1969 by Company of Biologists

Submitted on February 6, 1968

The Effect of Dissolved Oxygen Partial Pressure on the Growth and Carbohydrate Metabolism of Mouse LS Cells

¹ Biochemical Engineering Section, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, England; Vaccine Department, Rijks Instituutvoor de Volksgezondheid, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
² Biochemical Engineering Section, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, England

Batch cultures of mouse LS cells were grown in suspension at controlled dissolved oxygen partial pressures (pO₂. At low pO₂ (1.6 mmHg) the growth and respiration rates and the final cell population were all limited. At high pO₂ (320 mmHg), cell division was inhibited after an initial doubling of the cell number. At intermediate values of pO₂ the growth rate was constant but the final cell population varied. Within the pO₂ range of 40-100 mmHg, the final cell population was constant and maximal at 1.2x10⁶ viable cells/ml. Except at 320 mmHg pO₂ about 90% of the glucose consumed served as an energy source and could be accounted for as lactate and CO₂. In the culture at 320 mmHg, only 60% of the glucose consumed could be accounted for in this way. During growth the production of lactate and pyruvate was highest at low pO₂. A sharp increase in lactate production was observed as logarithmic growth ceased in each culture, except at high pO₂ (160 mmHg). These observations indicate that pO₂ markedly influences cell growth and carbohydrate metabolism in these cells.