Until some years ago serum or crude tissue extracts were used pre dominantly or exclusively as media supplements for the cultivation of cells. However, during this time evidence accumulated that these sup plements could not provide in an optimal way most of the cultivated cells with all factors necessary for their survival, their prolifer ation and/or differentiation. Moreover, a variety of cells could not be cultivated at all under these conditions and often the composition of the cultures changed within rather short periods of time by overgrowth of initially present subpopulations of those cells which grow well in these supplements, as for example fibroblasts. Nevertheless, using these supplements (or fractions thereof), insight could be gained into some of the influences of serum or tissue extract constituents with re gard to survival, proliferation and differentiation of cells in cul ture. It became obvious from these experiments that serum or tissue extracts did not only supply cells with nutrients or vitamins (which are now constituents of all basic media), but also with hormones as well as growth-, differentiation-, and attachment-factors. In course of time experiments were performed in which serum enriched with hormones and other growth factors was used to successfully culti vate those cells which could not survive in serum-supplemented media alone. Under normal conditions in an organism, however, only a small population of cells has direct contact with serum.

It has been known for over 40 years that GH-deficient-children benefit from replacement with the hormone. But GH, essential for longitudinal growth, also plays a role after completion of final height. With the introduction of biosynthetic human GH 20 years ago, the use of GH was no longer restricted to severe growth retardation in hypopituitary children. This book will take the reader behind the myths of GH and into the real world of clinical endocrinology. The contributions stem from recognized clinicians and scientists who have been working in the field for decades. The contents encompass traditional end points of GH therapy such as body composition, bone biology and physical performance. Attention is also devoted to diagnostic aspects and side effects. Additional features range from clinical epidemiology to quality of life, and novel areas such as the impact of traumatic brain injury on pituitary function are also covered. The present volume of Frontiers of Hormone Research is essential reading for health care professionals interested in clinical endocrinology and GH.

Some investigators have hypothesized that estrogens and other hormonally active agents found in the environment might be involved in breast cancer increases and sperm count declines in humans as well as deformities and reproductive problems seen in wildlife. This book looks in detail at the science behind the ominous prospect of "estrogen mimics" threatening health and well-being, from the level of ecosystems and populations to individual people and animals. The committee identifies research needs and offers specific recommendations to decision-makers. This authoritative volume: Critically evaluates the literature on hormonally active agents in the environment and identifies known and suspected toxicologic mechanisms and effects of fish, wildlife, and humans. Examines whether and how exposure to hormonally active agents occursâ€"in diet, in pharmaceuticals, from industrial releases into the environmentâ€"and why the debate centers on estrogens. Identifies significant uncertainties, limitations of knowledge, and weaknesses in the scientific literature. The book presents a wealth of information and investigates a wide range of examples across the spectrum of life that might be related to these agents.

It is a pleasure to contribute the foreword to Introduction to Cell and Tissue Culture: The ory and Techniques by Mather and Roberts. Despite the occasional appearance of thought ful works devoted to elementary or advanced cell culture methodology, a place remains for a comprehensive and definitive volume that can be used to advantage by both the novice and the expert in the field. In this book, Mather and Roberts present the relevant method ology within a conceptual framework of cell biology, genetics, nutrition, endocrinology, and physiology that renders technical cell culture information in a comprehensive, logical for mat. This allows topics to be presented with an emphasis on troubleshooting problems from a basis of understanding the underlying theory. The material is presented in a way that is adaptable to student use in formal courses; it also should be functional when used on a daily basis by professional cell culturists in a- demia and industry. The volume includes references to relevant Internet sites and other use ful sources of information. In addition to the fundamentals, attention is also given to mod ern applications and approaches to cell culture derivation, medium formulation, culture scale-up, and biotechnology, presented by scientists who are pioneers in these areas. With this volume, it should be possible to establish and maintain a cell culture laboratory devot ed to any of the many disciplines to which cell culture methodology is applicable.

The advantages of obtaining a completely defined environment for the growth of cells in vitro were recognized very early in the history of cell culture (Lewis and Lewis, 1911). Continued interest in the nutritional requirements of cells in vitro and in providing an optimal environment for cells led to the development of the complex nutrient mixtures available today in many media (Waymouth, 1972; Ham, 1965). However, serum remained an essential component of medium for the growth of most cell types in culture. The question of what factor (or factors) in serum was essential for cell growth and survival remained unanswered for several decades. Initially, experiments were designed to purify the "active component" of serum for the growth of cells in culture. These experiments identified fetuin (Fisher et at., 1958) and nonsuppressible insulinlike activity (Temin et at., 1972) as important components of serum. However, the complexity of serum and the very low levels of active components in serum hindered progress in identi fying and isolating serum factors.