Sodium pyruvate in ES cell culture media - (Sep/10/2007 )

I need to grow mouse ES cells but I am not sure what culture medium to use. Same protocols recommend to use DMEM with high glucose but without pyruvate, and others with pyruvate. Does anybody know what is the best? How does the pyruvate affect the growth of the ES cells?

thanks

Isamar

I've always used DMEM complemented with pyruvate for growing mouse ES cells. I'm not pretty sure what pyruvate does, but cells grow very nice. It has 15% FBS too... works fine.

here at the Invitrogen´s site (Invitrogen > Support > FAQs)

http://www.invitrogen.com/contentFrame.cfm...TN-Support-FAQs

there is an answer for your question:

"What is the purpose of Sodium pyruvate in media?
Sodium pyruvate serves as an additional energy source for cells in culture. It is often added to low glucose formulations (1.0 g/L glucose) and is sometimes added to higher glucose formulations as well. Cells can become "hooked" on sodium pyruvate however, and if it is withdrawn suddenly from the media, they may experience a short lag in growth."