Difference between gentamycin and gentamycin sulphate - (Mar/04/2010 )

Hi everybody,

I am a little confused about using antibiotics in cell culture and I need your help.

I am routinely working with MCF7 breast cancer cell line and up to now I was using gentamycin sulphate as antibiotic in the medium. Recently, it is finished and I could find "gentamycin" (not gentamycin sulphate). What I want to learn is:

1. Is there any difference between using gentamycin and gentamycin sulphate for culturing cells?
2. If there is difference, should I perform a cytotoxicity test for gentamycin (new antibiotic) before I use it?

I need your immediate help, thank you in advance...

genom38 on Mar 5 2010, 12:04 AM said:

MCF-7 is a common cell line we use in our Institute. The answer to your question is:-

YOU DON'T NEED TO USE ANTIBIOTICS/ANTIMYCOTICS IN THE FIRST PLACE.

All such compounds are very "Dirty"....i.e. they can interfer with many cellular mechanisms. You get the cells from the ATCC/ECACC free from Mycoplasma and adventisious agents. If you have good technique then they are not required.

Kindest regards.

Uncle Rhombus.

rhombus on Mar 5 2010, 03:53 AM said:

Hi Rhombus,

Thank you for your answer. I have been using medium w/o antibiotic for a while, however we are so many people working in the same lab (in cell culture room). I have tried to develop a resistant mcf7 against a chemotherapeutic agent for over 1 year and my cell lines are so sensitive and important. Namely, I am anxious about my resistant cell lines because of not having enough stock. Hence, I am planning to start to use antibiotic soon. If you know the difference between gentamycin and gentamycin sulphate, would you please help me about this?

Hi,

Here's a link to Drug information at Merk.

regards,

lab rat