Suspension cell culture and in vivo and in vitro chromosome constitution of mouse leukemia L1210.

An in vitro culture of mouse leukemia L1210 was established, along with conditions for optimal growth in suspension culture. L1210 showed a high requirement for folic acid in comparison with other cell lines in vitro. As few as 10 viable cells cultured in vitro killed DBA/2 mice. Cells from ascites showed a sharp mode of 40 chromosomes, with a minute marker chromosome and an extra-small, T-type (telocentric) chromosome. Cells cultured in vitro showed a mode of 40 or 41 chromosomes and contained the minute marker but not the extra-small chromosome; in addition, an m-type (metacentric) marker chromosome was observed in the cultured cells. This in vitro system should lend itself to evaluation of karyogenesis in relation to carcinogenesis, drug effects, and cytogenetic dynamics, as well as to nutritional and metabolic studies.