The Serial Cultivation of Calf Kidney Cells for Use In Virus Research

Abstract

Attempts to establish lines of cells from calf kidney mono layers are described in detail. Six of 9 culture series were maintained for periods of 11 to 24 weeks, involving 10 to 22 transfers; growth then failed rapidly and completely. Two further lines were passaged 50 and 66 times drying 21 and I7 months respectively; their growth remained satisfactory up to the 37th mid 41st in vitro generations, but thereafter was not sufficiently regular or vigorons to allow their satisfactory use ill virus investigations. No "transformed" or "altered" cell-type appeared in any of these cultures. The last line (BK/I65) was shown to be capable of sustained, rapid multiplication over more than 70 subcultures in a period of 18 months. This, also, was not a "transformed" type of cell. It was preserved ill glycerine-containing media at -700 C. for at least 10 months, with good retention of viability. All serially-cultivated calf kidney cells were highly susceptible to rinderpest virus passaged in primary calf kidney monolayers. Following a few serial passages in the "cell lines" good virus yields were not often obtained, but this eventually proved to be consistently possible with the line BK/I65. The latter was also found to be valuable for serial propagation of the virus of malignant catarrhal fever and susceptible to a bovine para-influenza virus.