The Gibco Human Melanocyte Basal Medium Kit, Calcium Free (formerly Medium 254CF Kit), enables the culture of human epidermal melanocytes.

The kit contains two components: 

• Human Melanocyte Basal Medium, Calcium Free (formerly Medium 254CF)—a calcium-free version of Human Melanocyte Basal Medium (formerly Medium 254) for those who desire to vary the concentration of calcium 

• A sterile stock solution of calcium chloride (0.2 M, 0.5 mL)

 

Human Melanocyte Basal Medium, Calcium Free, is a basal medium containing essential and non-essential amino acids, vitamins, other organic compounds, trace minerals, and inorganic salts. 

This medium does not contain antibiotics, antimycotics, hormones, growth factors, or proteins. This medium is HEPES and bicarbonate buffered and is designed for use in an incubator with an atmosphere of 5% CO₂/95% air. 

 

To support plating and long-term proliferation of normal human melanocytes, Human Melanocyte Basal Medium, Calcium Free, must be supplemented with calcium plus either Human Melanocyte Growth Supplement (HMGS, Cat. No. S-002-5) or PMA-Free Human Melanocyte Growth Supplement-2 (HMGS-2, Cat. No. S-016-5). Each of these supplements contains all of the growth factors, hormones, and tissue extracts necessary for growth of melanocytes in Human Melanocyte Basal Medium, Calcium Free.

 

Note: Calcium chloride must be added to this medium prior to use. Calcium concentration from other sources is 0.5 μM in unsupplemented Human Melanocyte Basal Medium, Calcium Free.