The characterization of hCG regulation in cultured human amniotic fluid cells

The media from primary cultures and subcultures of second trimester human amniotic fluid (AF) cells were assayed by radioimmunoassay to quantitate production of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Primary AF cultures produce more hCG per cell than do the corresponding subcultures. Sodium butyrate (2 mM) stimulates AF subcultures to produce 5-13 times more hCG per cell or per mg of cellular protein than do untreated subcultures. This stimulatory effect of sodium butyrate is dose dependent between 0 and 5 mM. Addition of sodium butyrate 24 hours after subculture, while stimulating production of hCG during the subsequent 3 days, also results in fewer cells and less protein per culture. This effect on cell growth is also dose-dependent. Previous investigators have proposed that the stimulation of hCG by sodium butyrate in other types of cell cultures is due to an effect of that agent on culture growth. Therefore, in these studies AF cells are allowed to grow to confluency before sodium butyrate was added. Production of hCG was stimulated by sodium butyrate about four-fold during the next 5 days although no significant changes were observed either in number of cells or amount of cellular protein per culture. These results suggest that stimulation of hCG by sodium butyrate is not dependent on its effect on growth of the cultures.