Endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) is an extract of bovine brain containing growth promoting factors for vascular endothelial cells of mammalian origin. ECGF has also been reported to be beneficial as a media supplement for the fusion and growth of hybridoma cells in monoclonal antibody production. Endothelial cell growth factor is prepared using a modification of the method of Maciag, et al. (1979) lyophilized from a sterile solution containing NaCl and streptomycin sulfate. Endothelial cells from human umbilical vein (HUVEC) can be established as primary cultures by traditional methods. The serial propagation of these cells has proved to be difficult. The long-term propagation of these cells in vitro can be achieved with an extract prepared from porcine brain. The introduction of a fibronectin or collagen matrix to the cell culture system allows to cultivate endothelial cells at clonal densities. With ECGF, the FCS requirement can be reduced. Heparin potentiates the mitogenic activity of crude preparations of ECGF. ECGF has also been reported to eliminate the need for feeder cells in the clonal growth of hybridomas and other cell types.

The working concentration of ECGF for HUVEC is in the range of 25µg/ml to 100µg/ml. When adding Heparin (2.5mg per mg ECGF) an ECGF concentration of 12µg/ml (30µg/ml Heparin) is optimal. In this case, 6 mg ECGF/Heparin are sufficient for 500 ml medium.