Proliferation and morphology of ascitic cells as a function of age in cell culture.

Ascitic cells in the logarithmic growth phase increase the accumulation of glycogen particles in the course of explantation into suspension culture, probably due to the increasing arrest of glycogenolytic enzymes. At this age, a part of the cells are capable of restitution by exopinocytosis of the glycogen-containing vacuoles ia formation of cytoplasmic buds. Older cells, taken from the plateau-phase, pass atypical differentiation and ageing, are less capable of hindering the abnormal accumulation of glycogen and the hypervacuolisation. As a consequence, the cells finally degenerate and die.