Gas chromatographic examination of medium composition during growth of mammalian cells in suspension culture

The trimethylsilyl derivatives of 18 amino acids, 3 sugars and 2 vitamins present in a complex tissue culture medium have been prepared and separated by temperature-programmed gas-liquid chromatography. Identification is based upon retention time and quantitation upon the area under the elution peak. As little as 0.02 μg of compound can be identified. During growth of L cells in suspension culture at controlled pH and redox potential, the concentration of most components rapidly declined. However, seven components initially increased in concentration before decreasing, and two components increased during the growth cycle.