Influence of culture media on prostaglandin output by dispersed amnion cells

The purpose of the study was to examine the influence of culture media on prostaglandin (PG) production by amnion cells and their response to phospholipase A2. Cells were dispersed from term tissue obtained by elective C-section; the PGE2 output was studied during the first 24 h of culture. The basal PGE2 production from cells cultured in Media 199 (M199) supplemented by 10% horse serum (HS) was significantly greater than that of cells cultured in F12:DME supplemented by 10% fetal calf serum (FCS). Furthermore, phospholipase A2 stimulated PGE2 production in cells cultured with M199 + HS but had no influence on PGE2 output by cells cultured with F12:DME + FCS. This effect was dependent on the presence of HS. The factor(s) in HS responsible was not removed by heating at 56 degrees C for 3 min, treatment with dextran coated charcoal or by ultrafiltration through 10,000 MW filters. Thus, culture media alters the in vitro production of PG and response to phospholipase A2 by amnion cells.