Analysis of Fatty Acids of Continuously Cultured Mammalian Cells by Gas-Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

SINCE the introduction of gas-liquid chromatography by James and Martin¹, a variety of animal tissues have been analysed for their fatty acid composition. The present report describes the application of the technique to the analysis of the fatty acid content of mammalian cells in continuous cultivation. Because of the small quantity of sample required by this method, it seemed well suited to the examination of fatty acids in cultured mammalian cells. Furthermore, because of the advantages inherent in the technique, analyses of the fatty acids of the cells could be made periodically with ease. Inasmuch as regular trypsinization and re-seeding of cells are necessary for the maintenance of a continuously cultured line of cells, the effect of this treatment on the fatty-acid content of the culture was examined at intervals over about twelve months.