Is the FBS included in PromoCell Smooth Muscle Cell Growth Medium 2 charcoal-stripped? Can I use the medium for hormone stimulation experiments?
No. The fetal bovine serum (FBS) included in PromoCell Smooth Muscle Cell Growth Medium 2 is not charcoal-stripped.
For hormone stimulation experiments, where the presence of steroids or other lipophilic compounds may interfere with experimental outcomes, we recommend using phenol red-free Smooth Muscle Cell Basal Medium 2 (C-22267) in combination with the SMC Growth Medium 2 SupplementPack (C-39262). The SupplementPack contains all supplements as individual components.
This setup allows you to replace the included 5 ml FBS with 5 ml charcoal-stripped FBS. Charcoal-stripped FBS has been treated to remove lipophilic compounds, including steroid hormones, making it more suitable for hormone-sensitive cell culture applications.
Please note that replacing standard FBS with charcoal-stripped FBS may affect the growth characteristics and proliferation rate of Smooth Muscle Cells. We therefore recommend validating culture performance under your specific experimental conditions before starting larger studies.
