What could be a reason for using Nystatin in culturing fetal tissue?

Nystatin is an antifungal agent that is particularly effective in inhibiting the growth of fungi, particularly yeast. When culturing fetal tissue or any biological samples, the risk of contamination by fungi is a significant concern. Fungal contamination can compromise the integrity of the culture, leading to inaccurate results and potentially interfering with the growth of the desired cells.

By using Nystatin in the culture medium, the growth of any contaminating fungi is inhibited, thereby providing a cleaner and more controlled environment for the fetal tissue cells to grow. This helps to ensure that the results from the culture are reflective of the fetal tissue itself, rather than being affected by unwanted microbial growth. This makes the use of Nystatin crucial in cytogenetic studies where the accuracy of cell growth and analysis is paramount.

While there are other factors and agents that may be employed in cell cultures, such as those aimed at stimulating growth or maintaining pH balance, they do not specifically address the critical issue of preventing fungal contamination, which is why Nystatin's role is particularly pivotal in this context.