4 General Cell Culture Methods
43
Subprotocol 8
How to Get Cell Lines and How to Ship Cell Lines
There are approximately 400 reported invertebrate cell lines. The people
who have established the various cell lines maintain most of them themselves. In order to obtain a particular cell line, write to the corresponding author of the first published report of the cell line, and ask for the
cell line to be sent to you.
Cell banks, such as American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), have
preserved some cell lines. One can obtain cell lines from such organizations, although the cell lines maintained by these organizations are limited. A catalogue can be obtained from these organizations, and then an
application made for specific cell lines according to the guidelines therein.
Usually, these organizations will charge you for the cost of supplying the
cell lines. Frozen cells may be sent to you; thaw and culture these cells
according to the thawing methods described (see chapter 4, subprotocol7).
Sending cell lines to others can be done safely, as follows.
Materials
- Culture tubes or cryotubes
- Plastic bags
- Carton boxes
- Styrofoam boxes
- Cultured cells to be shipped
- Culture media
- Parafilm
- Dry ice
Procedure
1. Adjust the cell density, taking the multiplication of cells during transportation into consideration.
2. Transfer the cell suspension into a tube with a 5-10 ml capacity. Leave
between 1/10 and 115 empty space in the tube.
3. Cap the tube tightly, and wrap parafilm, or similar, around the cap.
4. Place the tube in a small plastic bag, and then in an envelope or a box.
5. Send the cells by air-mail or by another rapid delivery system.
1. Culture cells in a plastic tube with a screw cap.
2. When the cells enter the exponential phase, fill the tube with fresh
medium, leaving between 1/10 and 115 air space.
3. Follow steps 3-5 for suspending cultured cells.
Equipment
Cells
Others
Suspending
cultured
cells
Substratedependent
cells
43
Subprotocol 8
How to Get Cell Lines and How to Ship Cell Lines
There are approximately 400 reported invertebrate cell lines. The people
who have established the various cell lines maintain most of them themselves. In order to obtain a particular cell line, write to the corresponding author of the first published report of the cell line, and ask for the
cell line to be sent to you.
Cell banks, such as American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), have
preserved some cell lines. One can obtain cell lines from such organizations, although the cell lines maintained by these organizations are limited. A catalogue can be obtained from these organizations, and then an
application made for specific cell lines according to the guidelines therein.
Usually, these organizations will charge you for the cost of supplying the
cell lines. Frozen cells may be sent to you; thaw and culture these cells
according to the thawing methods described (see chapter 4, subprotocol7).
Sending cell lines to others can be done safely, as follows.
Materials
- Culture tubes or cryotubes
- Plastic bags
- Carton boxes
- Styrofoam boxes
- Cultured cells to be shipped
- Culture media
- Parafilm
- Dry ice
Procedure
1. Adjust the cell density, taking the multiplication of cells during transportation into consideration.
2. Transfer the cell suspension into a tube with a 5-10 ml capacity. Leave
between 1/10 and 115 empty space in the tube.
3. Cap the tube tightly, and wrap parafilm, or similar, around the cap.
4. Place the tube in a small plastic bag, and then in an envelope or a box.
5. Send the cells by air-mail or by another rapid delivery system.
1. Culture cells in a plastic tube with a screw cap.
2. When the cells enter the exponential phase, fill the tube with fresh
medium, leaving between 1/10 and 115 air space.
3. Follow steps 3-5 for suspending cultured cells.
Equipment
Cells
Others
Suspending
cultured
cells
Substratedependent
cells