The cultivation of animal cells at controlled dissolved oxygen partial pressure (Reprinted from Biotechnology and Bioengineering, vol 10, pg 801, 1968)

A 3-liter culture vessel has been developed for the growth of animal cells in suspension at controlled pH and dissolved oxygen partial pressure (pO(2) ). The culture technique allows metabolically produced CO2 to be measured; provision can be made to control the dissolved CO2 partial pressure. In cul tures containing a low serum concentration, gas sparging to control pO(2) w as found to cause cell damage. This could be prevented by increasing the se rum concentration to 10%, or by adding 0.02% of the surface-active polymer Pluronic F68. The growth of mouse LS cells in batch culture without pO(2) c ontrol was found to be limited by the availability of oxygen. Maximum viabl e cell populations were obtained when dissolved pO(2) was controlled at val ues within the range 40-100 mm Hg.