Monoclonal antibody production in murine ascites - II. Production characteristics

Objective: To characterize monoclonal antibody production parameters of fiv e hybridoma cell lines in murine ascites for correlation with clinicopathol ogic changes in mice. Methods: Five hybridoma cell lines were grown in groups of 20 mice. Fourtee n days prior to inoculation with 10(6) hybridoma cells, mice were primed wi th 0.5 ml of pristane given intraperitoneally, Ascites fluid was collected a maximum of three times by abdominal paracentesis; volume was measured and antibody concentration was determined by ELISA for each sample. Results: Trends differed among cell lines when comparing ascites volumes an d antibody concentrations over time from the first to the third tap. Antibo dy production was greatest at tap 1 for Groups 2B11 and 2C6D9; tap 2 for Gr oup 3C9; and tap 3 for Groups RMK and 3D6. Total antibody production ranged from 422.90 to 996.64 mg; total ascites fluid volume ranged from 74.2 to 1 15.7 ml; and mean antibody concentration for taps 1, 2, and 3 ranged from 2 .50 to 15.03 mg/ml among cell lines. Conclusion: Production characteristics were significantly different among h ybridoma cell lines. Determination of production characteristics of hybrido mas and correlation with clinicopathologic changes in mice may be valuable in making recommendations for managing mice with ascites.