FRTL

FRTL (Fischer Rat Thyroid Low Serum) cells are a continuous line of rat thyroid follicular cells that have been cultured to study various aspects of thyroid physiology and pathology. These cells are particularly notable for their ability to accumulate iodide intracellularly, a key characteristic reflective of thyroid function in vivo. This unique feature makes them suitable for research focused on thyroid hormone biosynthesis, the mechanism of iodide transport, and the effects of various substances on thyroid function.

The culture conditions for FRTL cells are quite specific, requiring a specialized medium to maintain their physiological properties. Supplements such as FBS, insulin, hydrocortisone, thyrotropin, transferrin, somatostatin, and glycyl-1-histidyl-lysine acetate are necessary to replicate the hormonal environment of the thyroid gland. This precise combination of conditions supports the cells' typical growth pattern, where they tend to stack upon one another and form three-dimensional structures rather than spreading as a monolayer. This clustering behavior is significant as it mimics the follicular arrangement found in natural thyroid tissue, thus providing a more accurate model for studying thyroid cell interactions and dynamics in a controlled setting.

37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.

1. Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit.

2. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required.

3. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains.

4. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening.

5. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently.

6. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium.

7. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth.

8. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.

Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods.

To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.

At Cytion, we stand behind the quality and viability of our products. We guarantee that our cells will be viable at the start of culture for 60 days after shipment from our facilities. We assure that all materials conform to the specifications described in the Certificate of Analysis and/or Product Sheet.

For full details, please refer to our Warranty Statement.