I need to culture PC12 cells without serum because in my experiments I want to see the effects of adding substances which are present in serum. Do you know of any commercially available chemically-defined supplements that can support growth of PC12 cells in the absence of serum?
So far I have tried DMEM and Neurobasal A, both added with N2 Supplement, with poor result. I adapted cells (growing in serum) into the above media slowly, but upon going lower than 1-2% serum, very few cells were attached, and they grew very slowly. I don't suppose I should wait for these to grow fully and thus select for a unique subpopulation not needing serum?
I have these 2 more requirements:
1. Before my experiments, I will differentiate the cells with NGF. So I would like the cells to be cultured in the absence of serum, and upon addition of NGF they differentiate into a neuronal phenotype.
2. In my experiments I need to subject the cells to oxygen glucose deprivation, and the best way I know to remove glucose is to put the cells in the same culture media but minus glucose. For that reason I have tried DMEM and Neurobasal A, because glucose-free versions are commercially available. I am not aware of F12K or Neurobasal being available glucose-free.
Thanks.
Dear William,
Indeed you can culture PC12 cells without serum. Here you have a paper if you want to have more details (the paper is also found on researchgate).
Best wishes,
Marc
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16169086
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/7594837_Serum-free_culture_conditions_for_serial_subculture_of_undifferentiated_PC12_cells_J_Neurosci_Methods_151_250-261
Article Serum-free culture conditions for serial subculture of undif...
Hi Marc
Thanks for your helpful response. I had hoped for a commercial preparation, which would be much easier. But I guess there isn't any other report of successful serum free media for PC12. So, I took up to now to find out what and how much to buy, and where to buy, thus my slow reply. And now the waiting time for the purchasing and delivery.
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