Millipore Corporation has launched the Esgro Complete Plus medium for the feeder- and serum-free culture of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells.
The medium includes the original Esgro Complete clonal grade formulation and a GSK3B inhibitor supplement to help prevent differentiation.
Recent studies have shown that glycogen synthase kinase 3B (GSK3B) inhibitors help to maintain pluripotency and self renewal through the Wnt pathway.
Cells cultured in the Esgro Complete Plus medium, supplemented with the GSK3B inhibitor, consistently display better growth characteristics, cell morphology, viability and proliferation rates when compared with cells cultured in the original Esgro Complete medium alone, according to Millipore.
Amy Noble, stem cell and cell biology product manager, said: 'The original Esgro Complete medium revolutionised stem cell research three years ago because it was the first commercially available media for feeder- and serum-free ES cell culture.
'Now, the inclusion of the GSK3B inhibitor with the Esgro Complete Plus medium gives scientists an improved formulation for the maintenance of mouse ES cells in an undifferentiated state without serum and feeder cells,' she added.
The defined, serum-free formulation of the Esgro Complete Plus medium includes mouse leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF) BMP4 and the GSK3B inhibitor at optimised concentrations.
This formulation eliminates the inconsistency and expense associated with the use of fetal bovine serum (FBS) and feeder layers, while providing a complete medium that enhances the growth and maintenance of undifferentiated mouse ES cells in controlled conditions.
