AM-a consists of 500 ml of basal medium, 10 ml of fetal bovine serum (FBS, Cat. No. 0010), 5 ml of astrocyte growth supplement-animal (AGS-a, Cat. No. 1882) and 5 ml of penicillin/streptomycin solution (P/S, Cat. No. 0503). Astrocyte Medium-animal (AM-a), when used with Astrocyte Growth Supplement-animal (AGS-a, Cat #1882) and 10 ml of fetal bovine serum (FBS) is a complete medium designed for optimal growth of normal animal astrocytes in vitro. It is a sterile, liquid medium which contains essential & non-essential amino acids, vitamins, organic and inorganic compounds, hormones, growth factors, trace minerals and a low concentration of fetal bovine serum (2%). The medium is HEPES & bicarbonate buffered & has a pH of 7.4 when equilibrated in an incubator with an atmosphere of 5% CO2/95% air. The medium is formulated (quantitatively and qualitatively) to provide an optimally balanced nutritional environment that selectively supports the growth of normal animal astrocytes in vitro.