ABSTRACT
In a joint project of IPT (Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo) and Vallée S.A., the growth of BHK-21 cells, used for the production of a vaccine against foot-and-mouth disease, was studied. The present work aimed the evaluation of the influence of and dissolved oxygen concentration on this growth. Assays were performed in a 2 L stirred bioreactor, with a BHK-21 cell line supplied by Vallée S.A. The culture medium contained glucose, several amino acids, vitamins and bovine serum. Seven experiments were performed, in which pH varied between 6.8 and 7.4, and the dissolved oxygen concentration between 2 and 60(per cent) of air saturation. The definition of optimal values was based on analysis of cell productivity and amounts of cells produced at the point at which the cultures attained maximal cell concentration. Optimal values for these paramenters were observed at pH 7.2 and 10 per cente dissolved oxygen concentration.