The improvement of polyethylene glycol-induced cell fusion by incubation of cells in a medium with increased NaCl concentration.

Incubation of cells in a medium with NaCl concentration increased by 0.2 mol/l for one hour prior to and one hour after the polyethylene glycol induced cell fusion improves the performance of fusion. This procedure increases the percentage of fused cells, the formation of massive fusion products (in case of fusion performed in suspension) and allows the improvement of cell viability. The possible mechanisms involved in such effects of increased NaCl concentration are discussed.