Polyvinyl formal surface promotes continuous growth of Vero cells in protein-free medium.

The effect of polyvinyl formal (PVF) culture surface on the growth of 10 mammalian continuous cell lines, including Swiss 3T6, NCTC clone 929 L, BHK-21 clone 13, CHO-K1, PK 15, A 431, HeLa, MDCK, LLC-MK2 and Vero in protein-free 1:1 mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F12 supplemented with trace elements and L-ascorbic acid 2-phosphate, was investigated. Most of the cell lines showed only some initial proliferation on PVF similar to the polystyrene (PS) surface of commercially available culture flasks. In contrast, proliferation of monkey kidney cell line Vero was by far greater on PVF than on PS or poly-D-lysine treated culture surface. In addition, Vero cells on PVF could be subcultured in the protein-free medium without any significant decrease of growth rate in successive passages. These results showed that PVF provides a culture surface which selectively promotes continuous growth of Vero cells in protein-free, chemically defined medium.     

Apparent mutagenicity of N-nitrosothiazolidine caused by a trace contaminant

The identification of N-nitrosothiazolidine (NTHZ) in smoked meat products prompted us to evaluate this compound for mutagenicity by the Salmonella assay. NTHZ was prepared in 99 + % purity by the nitrosation of the cysteamine-formaldehyde reaction mixture without isolation and purification of the resulting amine, and from thiazolidine, directly. Mutagenic activity was observed with TA100 without metabolic activation in the former, but not the latter preparation. An examination of the precursors, reaction intermediates, and HPLC separation of the NTHZ from the mutagenic product demonstrated that the genotoxic activity resulted from a synthesis-produced trace contaminant.