Development of carbon balances for continuous animal cell cultures using 14C-labeled glucose

Continuous cultures of a hybridoma cell line (Zac3) were performed in a stirred tank reactor with protein-free media. At steady state the medium was replaced by one contg. U-14C-labeled glucose. The fluxes leaving the reactor were analyzed with a scintillation counter to det. the specific activity of each. The gas and solid phases allowed detn. of the oxidn. and the assimilation ratio of the consumed glucose. The liq. phase was sepd. chromatog. to det. quant. the different species consumed or formed by the cells. Identical expts. were also performed with U-14C glutamine labeled. The major part of the glucose consumed (83.65%) was converted to lactate. By this method it was possible to complete the carbon balance. [on SciFinder (R)]