Establishment of two dog mastocytoma cell lines in continuous culture

We have previously characterized dog mastocytoma cells propagated in nude mice. We have established two of these lines (C1 and C2) in continuous culture. Freshly disaggregated mastocytoma cells were cultured in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DME)-H16 mixed with 50% Ham's F12 and supplemented with histidine and 5% allergic dog serum (ADS). Cells were fed every 3 d and passaged weekly. Growth was assessed by cell count. Cell growth was best supported by culture in 5% ADS. C1 cells grow in suspension in ADS and have been passaged 55 times with a doubling time of 37.4 +/- 18.7 h (mean +/- 1 SD; n = 15). C2 cells adhere to tissue culture plastic in ADS and have been passaged 26 times with a doubling time of 49.3 +/- 12.5 h (n = 13). Morphologic and functional characteristics are unchanged from those described in cells propagated in nude mice. Histamine content for C1 is 0.46 +/- 0.18 pg/cell (n = 12) and 0.07 +/- 0.04 pg/cell (n = 6) for C2. Both lines contain the neutral protease tryptase and C2 contains chymase. Calcium ionophore A23187 or ragweed antigen caused concentration-dependent histamine release from both cell lines. C1 and C2 generate prostaglandin D2 in response to A23187. We conclude that dog mastocytoma cells can be established in continuous culture, thus providing a system for studying mast cell biology, including growth and development.