Protocol Online logo
Top : New Forum Archives (2009-): : Cell Biology

Retinoic acid - (Oct/27/2001 )

Dear Friends,

I encountered a problem in dissolving retinoic acid in my culture medium (MEM). Details: Firstly, I dissolve retinoic acid in DMSO as stock. When I treat my cells with retinoic acid, I add an aliquot of stock retinoic acid to my MEM. But, retinoic acid precipitates out in MEM as soon as it is added to the MEM.So, can anyone give me some information how to dissolve retinoic acid in MEM without precipitate formation.

Thank you for your attention.

--

Dear Friends,<p>I encountered a problem in dissolving retinoic acid in my culture medium (MEM). Details: Firstly, I dissolve retinoic acid in DMSO as stock. When I treat my cells with retinoic acid, I add an aliquot of stock retinoic acid to my MEM. But, retinoic acid precipitates out in MEM as soon as it is added to the MEM.So, can anyone give me some information how to dissolve retinoic acid in MEM without precipitate formation.<p>Thank you for your attention.<p>



This is long overdue. However, hope it will be of use for future searches on archive.

I dissolve retinoic acid in ethanol. DMSO might be toxic to or have an unwanted effect on cells. To dissolve into media (or make a dilution). I would use media, e.g. MEM suppl with FBS. Lipid in serum will help to "carry" fat-soluble retinoic acid.

-lsek-

lsek on May 14 2010, 09:54 AM said:

Dear Friends,<p>I encountered a problem in dissolving retinoic acid in my culture medium (MEM). Details: Firstly, I dissolve retinoic acid in DMSO as stock. When I treat my cells with retinoic acid, I add an aliquot of stock retinoic acid to my MEM. But, retinoic acid precipitates out in MEM as soon as it is added to the MEM.So, can anyone give me some information how to dissolve retinoic acid in MEM without precipitate formation.<p>Thank you for your attention.<p>


This is long overdue. However, hope it will be of use for future searches on archive.

I dissolve retinoic acid in ethanol. DMSO might be toxic to or have an unwanted effect on cells. To dissolve into media (or make a dilution). I would use media, e.g. MEM suppl with FBS. Lipid in serum will help to "carry" fat-soluble retinoic acid.



Hi, i am also working on retinoic acid. I was told that the retinoic acid once diluted/dissolve into the medium, has to be added to the cells as soon as possible, otherwise, the bulk of it will adsorb to the plastic ware, rendering a reduced effect. How true you think this is?

-WYF-

Not sure about this.
I would use it right away (less than 30 min) after dissolution into cell medium. I would then discard the excess.
However, if polypropylene material does cause adsorption of RA to it, I think the people working in measuring RA content in blood/serum will be more worried than us, esp those using vacutainer or vessels made from the ubiquitously utilized polypropylene material.

:wacko:

-lsek-

Yeah, makes perfect sense :( However, better to be safe than sorry. Will add it to the cell once dissolved in the medium...just in case...

-WYF-