The effect of oxygen tension on the growth and metabolism of WI-38 cells.

The effect of oxygen tension on cellular growth and metabolism was studied in actively growing WI-38 cells [greater than 90% labeled nuclei (LN)] grown under atmospheres containing 5% CO2 and various combinations of O2 and N2. Cells grown under a partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) of 7.8 +/- 3.5 mm Hg had a significantly slower growth rate, lower saturation densities and higher rates of glucose consumption and lactate production than did cells grown under a PO2 of 44 +/- 7 mm Hg. There were no significant differences in saturation density or the rates of glucose consumption or lactate production between cells grown under PO2 26 +/- 4 mm Hg, 44 +/- 7 mm Hg, or 134 +/- 11 mm Hg. Population doubling time was slightly prolonged at a PO2 of 134 mm Hg compared to a PO2 of 44 mm Hg. Cells grown under a PO2 of 291 +/- 25 mm Hg showed only 20-30% of the growth rate and 10-20% of the saturation density of cells grown under a PO2 of 134 mm Hg. Despite this reduced growth, cells grown under a PO2 of 291 mm Hg consumed four to six times as much glucose and produced four to six times as much lactate per cell as cells grown at a PO2 of 134 mm Hg. Cells grown under a PO2 of 560 +/- 38 mm Hg attached but did not proliferate. This toxic effect of oxygen on cell proliferation was reversible and was not due to an effect of oxygen on the media.