Cell cycle, cell size and mitochondrial activity of hybridoma cells during batch cultivation

Cell cycle, cell size and rhodamine 123 fluorescence in cell populations of two batch cultures were analysed and quantified with a fluorescence-activated cell sorter (FACS). Two cultures derived from either exponential or stationary phase innocula were investigated in order to demonstrate the dependency of the subsequent cell growth on innoculum condition. The results demonstrated that the level of activity of cells in the innoculum culture could have a significant effect on cellular activity during the initial phase of the inoculated culture, as it advances through its growth cycle. Positive correlation was found between the cell size and mitochondrial activity (as measured by rhodamine 123 uptake) with S and G2 fractions as the cell progressed through the cell cycle. The enumeration of the fractions of cell cycle phases has helped in prediction of the changes in cell numbers following perturbation of the culture condition.