Viable AC-2, a new adult bovine serum- and colostrum-based supplement for the culture of mammalian cells.

In this study we have shown that Viable AC-2, a medium based on the ultrafiltrate fraction of bovine colostrum and adult bovine serum, can be used successfully as a fetal bovine serum (FBS) substitute in the culture of several anchorage-dependent and independent cell lines. Of the 15 cell lines cultured in 8% Viable AC-2 in microplates, 10 reached the maximum cell density of 65%-123% of that in 10% FBS, 4 cell lines reached maximum cell density of 35%-65% of that in 10% FBS and only one cell line, a human osteosarcoma G-292, grew slowly in Viable AC-2. In a small-scale suspension culture, 8%-15% Viable AC-2 supports the growth of Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO-K1) on microcarriers in spinner flasks significantly better than 10% FBS. Shionogi mouse mammary tumour cell line (S115) transfected with human alpha 2-adrenergic receptor subtype C2 was used as a model to study recombinant protein production in Viable AC-2-supplemented medium. The results showed that in cell culture flasks and in an ACUSYST-R bioreactor, the alpha 2-C2 receptor expression level per mg of total protein was similar in both Viable AC-2 and FBS.