The primary culture of mouse adipocyte precursor cells in defined medium.

1. A defined medium supporting the proliferation and differentiation of adipocyte precursors isolated from inguinal fat pads of 8-12-day-old mice was developed. 2. It consists of a 1:1 mixture of DME and WAJC404A media supplemented with insulin (10 micrograms/ml), transferrin (10 micrograms/ml), fibroblast growth factor (10 ng/ml) and high density lipoproteins (HDL) (90 micrograms protein/ml). 3. DME-F12 medium (1:1 mixture) used as a nutrient mixture in the defined medium of rat and human adipocyte precursors was inadequate for cultivating mouse adipocyte precursors. 4. HDL had a definite beneficial effect on both preadipocyte growth and differentiation. 5. Differentiation was enhanced by addition of dexamethasone (10(-9) M) but could be almost completely inhibited by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1). 6. TGF-beta 1 was shown to be effective only when present in the early stages of differentiation.