BM-1604

Description: prostate epithelial cells from a 68-year-old man with benign prostate hyperplasia; cells were immortalized with SV-40 large T-antigen; cells were described to express cytokeratins 8, 18, and 19 (but not 14) and to metabolize prostatic androgens

Description: These cells are responsive to 5-alpha-dihydrotestosterone (growth modulation and acid phosphatase); the cells do not produce a uniform monolayer, but grow in clusters which should be broken apart by repeated pipetting when subcultures are prepared; they attach only lightly to the substrate, do no become confluent and rapidly acidify the medium; growth is very slow; the cells should be allowed to incubate undisturbed for the first 48 hours after subculture; when flask cultures are shipped, the majority of the cells become detached from the flask and float in the medium. Upon receipt, incubate the flask (in the usual position for monolayer cultures) for 24 to 48 hours to allow the cells to re-attach. The medium can then be removed and replaced with fresh medium. If desired the contents of the flask can be collected, centrifuged at 300xg for 15 minutes, resuspended in 10ml of medium and dispensed into a single flask.