The relationship between donor age and the growth characteristics of human smooth muscle cultures of aorta and stomach.

The relationship between donor age and the growth characteristics of normal human smooth muscle cell cultures derived from aorta and stomach was examined in a series of growth studies. A negative correlation was demonstrated between donor age and growth potential of both cell types in primary culture. This decreased growth potential of cultures derived from older donors was maintained in later passage cultures. The results suggest that the culture of human aortic and gastric smooth muscle cells from older donors is more difficult and that any cell cultures established may be limited by poor growth characteristics.