Parameters affecting ascites tumour formation in mice and monoclonal antibody production

Abstract

Hybridoma cells injected intraperitoneally into mice induce formation of ascites tumours and production of ascites fluid containing high levels of monoclonal antibody. Several parameters affecting the growth of the immunoglobulin-producing tumours have been studied in order to define optimal conditions for ascitic fluid formation and monoclonal antibody production. Using hybridomas produced by fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells with immunized mouse spleen cells we have shown: (1) that the optimal number of hybridoma cells required to induce an ascites tumour was between 6 and 32 × 10 5 cells; (2) that each mouse should be treated with a maximum of 0.5 ml of pristane; (3) that the priming period for pristane should be 14 days prior to the injection of cells; (4) that ascites formation and monoclonal antibody production is significantly better in males; and finally (5) that the age of mice used should range between 43 and 78 days. Under these conditions each mouse produces on average 7–10 ml of ascites fluid, containing a high level of antibody, over a maximum period of 6 days. The animals should start producing between the 5th and 9th day and usually survive 11–16 days after being injected with the tumour cells.