Figure 5

Effect of bicarbonate on PC3 tumor cells growth. PC3 were labeled with CFDA-SE and then plated in single culture (A), in coculture with fibroblasts in a 1:2 ratio (C) or both (B). The cells were grown at various pHe in DME supplemented either with 25 mM hepes and 10 mM bicarbonate at 37°C and 5% CO₂ or in DME supplemented only with 25 mM hepes at 37°C in CO₂/bicarbonate free environment. After 40 hours cells were detached and analyzed by flow cytometry. The data show the proliferation index calculated on an average of four experiments (**, p < 0.05 and ***, p < 0.01).