Problems of the prophylactic use of antibiotics in cell culture.

The article describes the historical development of the prophylactic use of antibiotics in cell culture as well as the effect of antibiotics on cells, i.e. the beta-lactam antibiotic penicillin, the aminoglycosid antibiotics (streptomycin, neomycin, kanamycin, gentamycin) and the polyene macrolids (nystatin, amphotericin B, fungizone). The way in which antibiotics influence the morphology of cells, their degeneration, their death and their functions is summarized. The DNA- as well as the protein-synthesis is affected. By this, multiple metabolic processes are interfered with or changed. This fact should be considered, when cell culture research is concerned. As antibiotics are used in multifold ways, the otherwise standardized conditions in cell culture are no longer comparable. The prophylactic use of antibiotics is rejected for scientific reasons.