Abstract: There is described the production of a pharmaceutical composition for the eatment of autoimmune diseases, whereby multiple sclerosis is excluded. As active materials, there are thereby used compounds of the general formula I ##STR1## in which R.sub.1 represents alkyl with 12 to 18 carbon atoms, R.sub.2 alkyl with 1 to 8 carbon atoms and R.sub.3 H or alkyl with 1 to 3 carbon atoms.

Abstract: Cells are grown in a layer attached to the roughened inner wall of a conter of fluorinated ethylenepropylene copolymer filled with a culture medium buffered with bicarbonate ions. The pH of the medium is monitored and maintained by varying the rate at which carbon dioxide is fed to the gas phase in an incubator enclosing the container which is permeable to gas, but impermeable to liquid. The partial pressure of oxygen in the gas phase is monitored, and controlled by varying the rate at which oxygen is fed to the incubator. Nitrogen is fed to the incubator at a rate varying inversely to the change in carbon dioxide feeding rate to maintain the partial pressure of oxygen under otherwise stable conditions. The medium may be pumped through the container intermittently or continuously and may be replaced by fresh medium when pH changes cannot be compensated by varying the carbon dioxide feeding rate.