A free-standing hydrostatic bioreactor for neural tissue culture

A hydrostatic bioreactor for the study of cells and tissue is described. The system, which was developed to determine the effects of increased pressure on neural tissue, is capable of applying pressures of up to 100 mmHg with an error of /spl plusmn/2 mmHg in an enclosed chamber. On-line pH, pressure and temperature control enables the system to be monitored continuously and to be independent of bulky cell culture incubators.