Technical library - RESOURCES

Yes, the specialized PromoCell media already contain the optimal amount of L-glutamine. Please don't add extra L-glutamine as this can be toxic for the cells.

The lead time is usually 4-8 weeks.

Pericytes have been shown to differentiate e.g. into adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, fibroblasts/myofibroblasts, vascular smooth muscle cells, and phagocytes.

Further Information

Diaz-Flores et al.

FCS is a natural product consisting of many different components like salts, hormones, vitamins, trace elements, proteins, and enzymes. There can be large lot-to-lot variations between different serum batches regarding the concentrations of growth-promoting factors. The higher the serum content in a culture medium, the higher the impact of the variations on the cell culture system. For this reason, PromoCell has developed several serum-reduced and serum-free media where part of the serum has been replaced by more defined factors like cytokines, hormones or vitamins.Media with reduced serum concentrations have the benefit that they produce more standardized culture conditions over a long time span.

PromoCell Normal Human Cells should be cultured in the appropriate medium at 37°C and 5% CO₂ in a humidified atmosphere. Please note: If using cell culture flasks w/o filter cap, unscrew the cap by half a turn to allow sufficient ventilation.

We have many customers who perform starvation with our HUVECs. Most of them use Endothelial Cell Basal Medium supplemented with FCS (0.5-1% for shorter periods; 5-20% for 24-48 hrs). The cells have to be in a good condition and the experiment should be terminated soon after starvation. Prolonged periods will induce apoptosis.

Yes, but the experimental starvation conditions have to be determined individually for each cell type. Usually, the cells are maintained in basal medium with reduced growth factor concentrations or lower FBS content. The cells need to be in a good condition and the starvation should be kept as short as possible as prolonged serum and/or growth factor deprivation induces apoptosis.

Our HAoAF (C-12380) are isolated from the Adventitia, the outer layer of the aorta. The cells have been characterized as fibroblasts by the expression of fibroblast-specific CD90.

A subconfluent T25-flask typically contains between 0.9 and 1.2 million cells corresponding to 36,000-48,000 cells per cm². It is recommended to count the existing cell number after trypsinization and to calculate the needed number of new flasks. Recommended seeding density for HUVEC is 5,000-10,000 cells/cm². This usually corresponds to a split ratio of 1:4-1:6. 1:6 means that you can increase the culture surface by factor 6 (e.g. from 1x T25 to 6x T25 or 2x T75).

Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) and hydrocortisone have been reported to have a synergistic effect on the growth of microvascular endothelial cells. Accordingly, if you remove the hydrocortisone, the proliferation of HDMEC is clearly affected.

PromoCell Fibroblast Growth Medium is serum-free and therefore not subjected to the lot-to-lot variations observed with DMEM/10% FCS. Our Fibroblast Growth Medium therefore allows for much more standardized cell culture conditions.

After adding the Skeletal Muscle Cell Differentiation Medium, myoblasts will start to differentiate into myotubes and stop growing. The cells should not be split anymore. It is recommended rather to plate the SkMC into the needed vessels, (e.g. multiwell plates), prior to induction of differentiation and to perform studies directly on differentiated cells. If it is necessary for your tests to detach the myotubes and they are difficult to trypsinze, you can use a "rubber policeman".