[Establishment and characterization of the pig aortic endothelial cell line BSEz-3 in a serum-reduced medium].

The cell line BSEz-3 was established in a serum-reduced medium MEMPAS. The cells were isolated and cultivated under the same conditions as the calf aortic endothelial cell line BKEz-7. With regard to cell isolation and cell density in the stationary phase, BSEz-3-cells show characteristic differences from BKEz-7-cells. For the isolation of BSEz-3-cells an enzymatic-mechanical method was more successful than a mechanical technique only. The low saturation density in the stationary phase with an average number of 50,000 cells/cm2 of glass surface area is considered as a strong contact inhibition of cell proliferation. As a cell type specific marker the BSEz-3-cells contain factor-VIII-antigen and possess angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. For a practical use of the BSEz-3-cells in drug research we give recommandations regarding cell inoculum density for subcultivation and cryo-conservation in ampoules.