Abstract: Methods are provided for the establishment and maintenance in long term culture of hormone secreting cells. Cells are derived from tumorous or non-tumorous animal or human tissues, including ovary, endometrium, trophoblast, pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas. The cells secrete into the culture medium hormones such as estrogens, progestins, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, thyroxin, glucagon, and insulin, depending on the tissue of origin of individual cell cultures. Contact with an appropriate secretogogue causes the cells to respond with increased hormone secretion. For instance, ovarian follicular cells respond to follicle-stimulating hormone with increased estrogen and progesterone secretion. Pancreatic cells respond to elevated glucose with increased insulin secretion. The cells proliferate in in vitro for up to one year or longer, during which time they retain their hormone-secretion profile.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the establishment and maintenance in long term culture of hormone secreting cells. Cells are derived from tumorous or non-tumorous animal or human tissues, including ovary, endometrium, trophoblast, pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas. The cells secrete into the culture medium hormones such as estrogens, progestins, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, thyroxin, glucagon, and insulin, depending on the tissue of origin of individual cell cultures. Contact with an appropriate secretogogue causes the cells to respond with increased hormone secretion. For instance, ovarian follicular cells respond to follicle-stimulating hormone with increased estrogen and progesterone secretion. Pancreatic cells respond to elevated glucose with increased insulin secretion. The cells proliferate in in vitro for up to one year or longer, during which time they retain their hormone-secretion profile.

Abstract: Methods are provided for the establishment and maintenance in long term culture of hormone secreting cells. Cells are derived from animal or human tissues, including ovary, endometrium, trophoblast, pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas. Pancreatic cells are obtained by gently rupturing the basement lamina of a whole islet. The pancreatic cells that develop through the rupture in the basement lamina are cultured. The cells secrete into the culture medium various hormones depending on the tissue of origin of individual cell cultures. Contact with an appropriate secretogogue causes the cells to respond with increased hormone secretion. For instance, pancreatic cells respond to elevated glucose with increased insulin secretion. The cells proliferate in vitro for up to one year or longer, during which time they retain their hormone-secretion profile. The cells may be frozen for storage, and retain their hormone-secretion profile after thawing.

Abstract: Culture media, having low osmolarity, for establishing and maintaining hormone-secreting cells in long-term culture are disclosed. Cells are derived from tumorous or non-tumorous animal or human tissues including ovary, endometrium, trophoblast, pituitary, thyroid, and pancreas. The cells secrete into the culture media hormones such as estrogens, progestins, follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, human chorionic gonadotrophin, thyroxin, glucagon, and insulin, depending on the tissue of origin of individual cell cultures. The cells proliferate in vitro for up to one year or longer, during which time they retain their hormone-secretion profile.