BHK CELLS

BHK cells: translation

(= baby hamster kidney cells)

A quasi-diploid established line of Syrian hamster cells, descended from a clone (Clone 13) isolated by Stoker & McPherson from an unusually rapidly growing primary culture of new-born hamster kidney tissue. Usually described as fibroblastic, although smooth muscle-like in that they express the muscle intermediate filament protein desmin. Widely used as a viral host, in studies of oncogenic transformation and of cell physiology.