Growth of a rat neuroblastoma cell line in serum-free supplemented medium.

The rat neuroblastoma B104 cell line, which originated in the central nervous system, was able to proliferate in the absence of serum in synthetic medium supplemented with insulin, transferrin, progesterone, selenium, and putrescine. When added individually, each supplement had little or no effect; however, in combination there was a marked synergistic effect on cell number. The cells attained the same saturation density in this medium as in medium with 10% fetal calf serum added. More extensive process formation was observed in the supplemented medium, and other differentiated properties were retained as well.