Induction of adipose conversion by mouse serum in cultured cells and its characterization

Mouse serum (MS) effected a rapid accumulation of many lipid droplets by cultured cells in the growing or resting state. MS-induced adipose conversion in all of 12 randomly selected cell lines, including human, mink, rat, and mouse cells and almost all of the cells in a culture dish were converted. Under excessive amounts of MS, the cells became mature adipocytes, lost the ability to divide and soon died. However, proliferation of adipocytes induced by smaller quantities of MS was not different from that of control cells in calf serum (CS). When adipose conversion developed, oncorna virus producing cells ceased virus production and there was a clear connection between decrease of virus production and rate of adipose conversion. The adipose conversion of 3T3-FL cells grown for 7 days in the presence of bromodeoxyuridine (BUdR) was inhibited. Actinomycin D (actD) and cycloheximide also inhibited adipose conversion. It is suggested that the cells may have an inherent ability to differentiate into adipocytes.