Hybridoma antibody content and production rate in continuous culture: Effect of dilution rate

Hybridoma IND1 viability was ≥95% for dilution rates (D) ranging from 45 to 100% of μ_max (0.037 hr^-1). Over this range, the cell concentration and total protein content increased with D. Washout occurred at D=0.041 hr^-1, but the intracellular protein content continued to increase. The high- and low-content modes of the intracellular antibody distribution did not vary with D. The fraction of cells with high antibody content decreased with time, except for an increase at D=0.041 hr^-1. This decrease did not affect the specific antibody production rate, which, like the high- and low-content modes, was independent of D.