Primary culture and maintenance of steroid-secreting human placental monolayers

Summary A simple method is described for primary culture and for maintenance of hormone-producing cells from normal human placenta. A consistent yield of cells was obtained and an average survival of 3 to 4 months in culture using 1 mm³ explants from the most vascular area of the placentas. These explants were placed in a variety of culture media in 30 ml flasks and incubated at 37°C in an atmosphere of 5% CO₂ and 95% air. The best yields in terms of cell growth were observed with Eagle’s MEM (minimum essential medium) with supplements of horse serum and fetal calf serum or human cord serum. (Ham’s F-10 with supplement of horse serum and fetal calf serum supports growth for the longest period and media containing human cord serum had the best yield of steroids.) Presented in part at the 25th meeting of the Tissue Culture Association, June 5, 1974, Miami Beach, Florida. Supported by a contract from the Agency for International Development (2491/csd) and a grant from the National Institutes of Health (CA-12455).