Physiological changes of the murine hybridoma cell line during adaptation to RPMI 1640 medium with 1%(v/v) fetal bovine serum were characterized in terms of cell growth, antibody production, morphology, and metabolic quotients. Cells adapted to 1% serum medium in T-flasks became sensitive to shear induced by mechanical agitation and required at least 5% serum in the medium or spent medium for cell growth in spinner flasks, while cells adapted to 10% serum medium in T-flasks could grow in 1% serum medium in spinner flasks. Consequently, long-term adaptation to low serum media may not give the expected growth enhancement. After adaptation to 1% serum medium, changes in cell morphology were observed. The cells in 10% serum medium were uniform and circular, while cells in 1% medium were irregularly shaped. The DNA contents, which were measured by flow cytometry, were almost constant among the cells in the range of 1% to 10%. Further, no significant changes in energy metabolism and specific monoclonal antibody production rate were observed among these cells.