[Effects of various growth factors on the growth of trophoblast cells in long-term culture].

Trophoblasts taken from placental tissue of the 1st trimester and molar tissue, and GCH-1 (gestational choriocarcinoma cell line) cells were cultured in collagen coated dishes. The medium used was a mixture of DME and Ham's F-12 (1:1), containing EGF, PDGF, insulin, GM-CSF, IL-1, -2, -3, PGE1 and PGE2 in various concentrations. 3H-TdR uptake of the cultured cells was measured as a marker of cell growth. The growth of normal trophoblasts was enhanced by PDGF or insulin, and remarkably by EGF + PDGF + insulin + GM-CSF. The growth of molar trophoblasts was accelerated by EGF or insulin. Under these culture conditions, normal trophoblasts have been successfully cultured and maintained for 12 months and molar trophoblasts for 9 months to date. The cultured cells were identified with trophoblasts by immunohistochemical staining with CAM 5.2 monoclonal antibody. No effect of growth factors was observed in GCH-1 cells.