Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Cell size in aging monolayer cultures

  • Published:
In Vitro Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Changes in the size of the area covered by individual cultured WI-38 cells as the cultures age have been studied by using a new microphotographic paper cutout technique. This method is nondestructive and nonintrusive and avoids a number of artifacts which can occur in the measurement of suspended cells. The measurements reveal that the decreased cell yield of late passage cultures-reflects not only the appearance of a subpopulation of larger cells but also the failure of the cells to utilize all the growth surface available to them.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Hayflick, L. 1975. Cell biology of aging. BioScience 25: 627–637.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Cristofalo, V. J. 1972. Animal cell cultures as model systems for the study of aging. Adv. Gerontol. Res. 4: 45–79.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Martin, G. M., C. A. Sprague, T. H. Norwood, and W. R. Pendergrass. 1974. Clonal selection, attenuation and differentiation in an in vitro model of hyperplasia. Am. J. Pathol. 74: 147–150.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Goldstein, S. 1974. The biology of aging. N. Engl. J. Med. 285: 1120–1129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Cristofalo, V. J., and B. B. Sharf. 1973. Cellular senescence and DNA synthesis. Exp. Cell Res. 76: 419–427.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Macieira-Coelho, A., J. Ponten, and L. Phillipson. 1966. The division cycle and RNA-synthesis in diploid human cells at different passage levelsin vitro. Exp. Cell Res. 42: 673–684.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Cristofalo, V. J., and D. Kritchevsky. 1969. Cell size and nucleic acid content in the diploid human cell line WI-38 during aging. Med. Exp. 19: 313–320.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Bowman, P. D., R. L. Meek, and C. W. Daniel. 1975. Aging of human fibroblasts in vitro. I. Correlations between DNA synthetic ability and cell size. Exp. Cell Res. 93: 184–190.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Simons, J. W. I. M. 1967. The use of frequency distributions of cell diameters to characterize cell populations in tissue culture. Exp. Cell Res. 45: 336–350.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Macieira-Coelho, A., and J. Ponten. 1969. Analogying growth between late passage human embryonic and early passage human adult fibroblasts. J. Cell Biol. 43: 374–377.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Mitsui, Y., and E. L. Schneider. 1976. Relationship between cell replication and volume in senescent human diploid fibroblasts. Mech. Aging Dev. 5: 45–56.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Schneider, E. L., and B. J. Fokles, 1976. Measurement of DNA content and cell volume in senescent human fibroblasts utilizing flow multiparameter single cell analysis. Exp. Cell Res. 98: 298–302.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Ryan, J. M., B. B. Sharf, and V. J. Cristofalo. 1975. The influence of culture medium volume on cell density and lifespan of human diploid fibroblasts. Exp. Cell Res. 91: 389–392.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Malluci, L., V. Wells, and M. R. Young. 1972. Effect of trypsin on cell volume and mass. Nature [New Biol.] 239: 53–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Tobey, R. A., and H. A. Crissman. 1975. Unique technique for cell cycle analysis utilizing mithramycin and flow microfluorimetry. Exp. Cell Res. 93: 235–239.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Deluca, C. 1965. The use of trypsin for the determination of cell viability. Exp. Cell Res. 40: 186–188.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Milo, G. E. 1973. Enhancement of senescence in low passage human embryonic lung cells by an agent extracted from phase III cells. Exp. Cell Res. 79: 143–151.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Thrash, C. R., and D. D. Cunningham. 1975. Growth limitation of 3T3 mouse fibroblasts by available growth surface area and medium components. J. Cell Physiol. 86: 301–310.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Dulbecco, R., and J. Elkington. 1973. Conditions limiting multiplication of fibroblastic and epithelial cells in dense cultures. Nature 246: 197–199.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Kruse, P., and E. Miedema. 1965. Production and characterization of multiple-layered populations of animal cells. J. Cell Biol. 27: 273–279.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Cristofalo, V. J. 1973. Cellular senescence: factors modulating cell profileration in vitro. INSERM 27: 65–92.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Absher, P. M., R. G. Absher, and W. D. Barnes. 1974. Genealogies of clones of diploid fibroblasts. Cinemicrophotographic observations of cell division patterns in relation to population age. Exp. Cell Res. 88: 94–104.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Wistar Institute of Anatomy and Biology, 36th Street at Spruce, 19104, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

    S. B. Greenberg, G. L. Grove & V. J. Cristofalo

Authors
  1. S. B. Greenberg
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. G. L. Grove
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. V. J. Cristofalo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported in part by USPHS research grant AG-00378 and by a fellowship, AG-05019, from the National Institute on Aging.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Greenberg, S.B., Grove, G.L. & Cristofalo, V.J. Cell size in aging monolayer cultures. In Vitro 13, 297–300 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616174

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02616174

Key words

Search

Navigation