Baby hamster kidney-derived cells (BHK-21 cell line), seeded at low density on gelatin coated dishes and exposed to a 1:1 (v/v) mixture of Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium and Ham's F-12 medium, proliferate actively when exposed to high density lipoproteins (HDL), transferrin, and basic or acidic fibroblast growth factor (FGF). This serum free medium combination supported cell multiplication at a rate equal to that of serum supplemented medium, and at low cell input (10(3) cells/35-mm dish). Epidermal growth factor (EGF), although mitogenic for BHK-21 cells, was less efficient than either basic or acidic FGF in supporting cell growth. When the potency of basic and acidic FGF were compared, acidic FGF was 10-fold less potent than basic FGF. The requirement of BHK-21 cells for transferrin appears to be minimal since cells exposed to HDL and basic FGF could be serially transferred for at least 50 cumulative population doublings in the absence of transferrin.