EMEM vs DMEM - (Sep/29/2011 )

Hello all!

I have a question about Biowhittaker cell cultured medium. One of my labmates has bought the wrong medium to the lab, we were using DMEM for HEK293 and HELA cells, but he bought EMEM. So now we are wondering if we can use this other medium for our cultures and if we should add other things, beside FSC and glutamine.
I've read that the differences between this two medias are that dubelcco's one has more aminoacids and glucose and i've seen that EMEM also has 25mM Hepes, and i don't know if this can interfered with the growing of my cells.

I'd appreciate your help!
Thank you very much!

Losybelle

In general, I have seen HeLa cells cultured in both types of media, although most people I know use DMEM. I have read papers that say that under certain circumstances (viral infections, transfections) there are differences between cells grown in DMEM and EMEM. The bottom line is, if you have experiments that you have done with DMEM and you are going to do more with EMEM, do you really want to have that question in the back of your mind? It's always better to be consistent with the culture medium from one experiment to the other. If you just need media to keep the cells passaged a few times while you wait for your DMEM to come in, then I don't think you should have that much of a problem if you switch back for experimental work.

If I were you, I would just stick with DMEM and see if someone else can use your EMEM for their culture work (or try to return it if the company is feeling generous).

Best of Luck.

thank you very much! you have been really helpfull!!! I think that i'll do as you say, we'll try to get DMEM and maybe mantein the cells with EMEM in the meanwhile!

Thanks again!!

best wishes!