Pt. Iype et al., ON THE USE OF SYRIAN-HAMSTER CELL-CULTURES AS TARGETS FOR CARCINOGEN-SCREENING, International journal of oncology, 7(3), 1995, pp. 603-609
Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) cells have a reported culture lifespan lim
ited to 30 to 40 population doublings (PDs). In contrast, we have obse
rved continuous growth of two SHE cell lines without the hallmarks of
cellular senescence. Two independent primary isolates (SHE-3, and SHE-
15) have been grown for more than 160 PDs (SHE-3) and 50 PDs (SHE-15),
respectively, with weekly subcultures and with no sign of senescence.
During this study, we observed that SHE-3 cells ceased to multiply af
ter about 30 PDs when grown in a nutritionally-inadequate serum-free m
edium, but resumed growth when switched to an adequate medium. The chr
omosomal profiles of both SHE cultures revealed a near diploid karyoty
pe but not a completely normal karyotype, even at early passages with
increasing chromosomal changes with continued culture. In addition, Sy
rian hamster chondrocytes were isolated, partially characterized, and
their sensitivity to chemically-induced morphological transformation w
as compared to that of the standard Syrian hamster embryo (SHE) mixed
cell culture. It appears that chondrocytes may be a suitable and more
sensitive target for carcinogen-screening in vitro.