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cells shrink, detach from each other when changing media - (Nov/30/2011 )

Hi everyone,

I am culturing a glioma cell line. I need to change the media after 2-3 days. Whene I change the medium and look back at the cells, I notice that they detach from each other clumping up and kind of shrinking into islands from a continuous monolayer.

I am adding warm DMEM, which is what they are growing in before the media exchange.

Has anyone experience the same and/or has an idea of what is going on?

I think most of the cells that sort of shrink and detach eventually die.

Any help would be great

Thanks

-scientist86-

Try taking some of the medium off the cells, filtering it and adding it at 2:1 oe 3:1 (fresh : old) back onto the cells. It may be that you are removing secreted growth factors from the cells, which they need to replenish before they will grow again.

-bob1-

Thanks, could a different FBS solve the problem as well?

Thanks

Piero

-scientist86-

Possibly, if you have changed batches recently, that could be the reason this has started happening. In the future, when a new batch is being brought in, get samples and test it against your cell lines (you should be doing this anyway).

-bob1-