Altered growth behavior and phenotypic expression of cells of mouse and hamster cell lines after treatment with polyanions.

Effect of polyanions on saturation density and production of viscous substance of cells of mouse and hamster cell lines was studied. Cell lines used were 3T6, HA-2 and HA-8 cells. Polyanions were dextran sulfate, (3,6-anhydro-4-o-beta-galactopyranosyl-2-D-galactopyranose-2,4'-bis (potassium/sodium sulfate) (1 leads to 3) polysaccharide (polygeenan) and dextran phosphate. Dextran sulfate reduced the saturation densities of cell lines. Growth of 3T6 cells was not significantly affected by dextran sulfate. Polygeenan and dextran phosphate could not decrease the saturation densities of all the cell lines tested. The production of viscous substance into medium from the treated cells increased after treatment with all polyanions with the exception of dextran phosphate of molecular weight 40,000. It was suggested that specific structure of polyanion might be necessary for the decrease of saturation density of cell lines. Furthermore, it appears that dextran sulfate decreases saturation density of cell line along with change of phenotypic expression of cells.