Influence of long-term limitation of cell proliferation on the cell cycle duration.

The hypothesis was tested that constant, long-term inhibition of cell proliferation is the primary cause of cellular senescence. Mouse L-929 fibroblasts were maintained in confluent cultures for periods of 6 and 12 months with cell viability maintained by regular replacement of medium and serum. The mitotic activity of the cell population under these conditions was one mitosis per 10(4) cells. No changes in the duration of the cell cycle were observed when, following long-term quiescence, the cell were replated and grown at low cell density. The results do not support the hypothesis that prolonged suppression of cell proliferation induces cell senescence.