Figure 5. Effect of betaine and myo-inositol on the colony-forming efficiency of cells incubated in depleted hypertonic medium.

Endothelial cells were seeded at a density of about 200 cells per well (area 9 cm²) in isotonic (0.3 osmol (kg H₂O)⁻¹) medium and cultured for 24 h. Then the medium was replaced with the depleted hypertonic (0.5 osmol (kg H₂O)⁻¹) one containing added betaine and myo-inositol at the indicated concentrations. Colonies were allowed to grow for 12 days and then the number of colonies larger than 50 cells was counted. Values are the means (±s.d.) of three independent determinations. (The maximum number of colonies possible was less than 200.)