Description of a new hamster ventral prostate cell line containing androgen receptors.

Using chemical transformation of primary monolayers of hamster ventral prostate tissue, we have established the HVP-G3 and HVP-B1 cloned cell lines which have been growing in our laboratories for over 18 months. Both cell lines contain high-affinity, saturable androgen receptors which migrate into the nucleus when exposed to physiological doses of androgen. However, neither cell line demonstrates a growth response to androgens. Each cell line will produce a tumor in 6 to 8 weeks when injected subcutaneously into male or female Syrian hamsters. In vitro cell doubling times range from 12 hr in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH-NIH-S-18) to 18 hr in the presence of 5% serum. Both cell lines have a diploid stemline.