Abstract
Many of the experiments being done in our laboratory to gain a clearer understanding of bone metabolism require the use of cell culture techniques to examine the effects of ions or hormones on a specific cell population. Unfortunately, however, because the isolated osteoblasts and their precursors are anchorage-dependent cells, it is often difficult to obtain large numbers of these cells by standard tissue culture techniques. In an attempt to overcome these difficulties and thus obtain large numbers of these cells, we have adapted a technique of using microspheres (Superbeads, Flow Laboratories, or Cytodex 1, Pharmacia) to which cells will attach and proliferate.These microspheres are composed of diethylaminoethyl anion exchange groups bound to a dextran matrix. First discovered by van Wezel,1 and worked into research scale applications by Levine et al,2 this method offers all of the advantages of suspension cultures for large-scale cultivation of cells, while providing
