An improved selection procedure for the rescue of hybridomas. A comparative study of methotrexate versus aminopterin.

Several of aminopterin's drawbacks such as photosensitivity and high toxicity prompted us to compare the ability of methotrexate to select for hybridomas. Assessing the effect of both drugs on X63/Ag 8.653 myeloma cells and hybrid cells secreting monoclonal antibodies by tritiated thymidine incorporation and percentage of viable cells, we have shown that methotrexate could be used in place of aminopterin for the rescue of hybrid cells in selective medium. In addition, methotrexate hybrids develop more rapidly and can therefore be processed earlier. The stability and low toxicity of methotrexate also favor its use in the selection of hybridomas.