The effect of serum on the calcium content of BALB/c 3T3 mouse cells

Serum deprivation of sparse BALB/c 3T3 mouse cell cultures causes the cells to stop proliferating and increases the uptake of calcium from the medium, with the amount of calcium accumulated being proportional to the extent of reduction of the serum concentration in the medium. Serum addition stimulates the cells to start proliferating and rid themselves of the calcium accumulated during the period of serum deprivation.