High yield monoclonal antibody production in ascites

BALB/c males were mated with Swiss Webster/HPB females to produce a first generation cross. Hybridoma cells derived from fusing SP2/0 myeloma cells and histocompatible spleen cells were injected intraperitoneally into these mice to induce formation of ascites tumors and production of ascitic fluid containing large quantities of monoclonal antibody. Mice, 80 days old weighing between 28 g to 35 g, were treated with 0.5 ml of pristane 18 days before inoculation of 3.2 X 10(6) hybridoma cells. The first generation crosses, (BALB/c male X SW/HPB female)F1, produced up to 4 times more ascitic fluid of equally high antibody level over a longer period compared to the BALB/c parent. This first generation cross is a cost effective means for monoclonal antibody production.