MEDIA REDOX STATUS - (Jun/21/2012 )

Hi there,

Background: My stem cell lines behave very differently in two different media and I suspect this has something to do with how my cell's redox homeostasis is being influenced by the media.

Question: is there a simple way of calculating whether a media confers a more reduced or more oxidized environment on the cells? The one media I am using is IMDM:F12 and the other is ADF (advanced DMEM F12), both marketed by Invitrogen.

Many thanks in advance for any suggestions

You can calculate the buffering capacity based on the amount of HEPES or bicarbonate and CO2 in the system.

bob1 on Thu Jun 21 21:31:23 2012 said:

Thanks bob1. How about components such as glutathione and ascorbic acid. Wouldn't these components in the media generate cells with a more reduced intracellular milieu?

Potentially, but I would have thought they would only be taken up in the amounts needed by the cell, so there should be some balance.