BV2 Cells

€650.00*

Products are shipped frozen on dry ice in cryotubes. Each cryotube typically contains 3 × 10⁶ cells for adherent lines or 5 × 10⁶ cells for suspension lines (refer to the batch CoA for details).

Prices excl. taxes plus shipping costs

cryovial

Product number: 305156

Safety data sheet

Product sheet

Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

Material Transfer Agreement

Description	BV2 cells are a type of microglial cell line derived from C57BL/6 murine, a widely used laboratory mouse strain for animal experiments. These microglial cells have been immortalized using the J2 retrovirus, which carries the v-raf and v-myc oncogenes, resulting in a stable cell line with unique characteristics. BV2 cells express nuclear v-myc and cytoplasmic v-RAF oncogenes, along with the env gp70 antigen on their surface, contributing to their role in immune responses and inflammation within the brain. One of the critical advantages of BV2 cells is their ability to retain the morphological and functional characteristics of primary microglia, the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, making them an ideal model for studying neurodegeneration and brain inflammation. The role of microglia in neurodegeneration, toxicology, and immunity, particularly in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, is an ever-growing field in biomedical research. Traditional studies often rely on primary microglia cultures and continuous cell preparations. Using a microglia-like cell line, such as BV2 cells, offers a promising alternative by providing a continuous and reproducible source of microglia. BV2 cells, due to v-raf/v-myc expression, show enhanced metabolism and growth, ideal for research on microglial activation and inflammation. Their expression of specific oncogenes and antigens mirrors macrophages, making them valuable for studying immune responses and disease mechanisms. A recent re-evaluation of mice BV2 microglia cells examined their suitability as a substitute for primary microglia (PM). The response of BV2 cells to lipopolysaccharide was compared with that of microglia in both in vitro and in vivo settings, however, with the upregulation of genes being slightly less pronounced on average. BV2 cells displayed normal regulation of nitric oxide and functional response to IFN-gamma, critical parameters for their interaction with T cells, neurons, and other glial cells such as astrocytes. BV2 cells were also found to stimulate other glial cells effectively, leading to the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in astrocytes. This interaction between astrocytes and microglia is crucial for understanding the complex cell-cell interactions and the inflammatory response in the brain, especially in the context of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, where proteins such as NAPoe31 and NAPoe41, as well as pathways like the startle response and apoptosis, play significant roles. BV2 cells offer a robust and reliable tool for researchers in microglial biology. Their expression of v-raf/v-myc oncogene products enables them to retain key characteristics of microglia and macrophages. BV2 cells have proven to be a valid substitute for primary microglia in various experimental settings, facilitating research on neurodegeneration, toxicology, immunity, and cell-cell interactions.
Organism	Mouse
Tissue	Brain
Synonyms	BV-2

Breed/Subspecies	C57BL/6
Age	1 week
Gender	Female
Morphology	Morphology microglial
Growth properties	Adherent

Citation	BV2 (Cytion catalog number 305156)
Biosafety level	1
NCBI_TaxID	10090
CellosaurusAccession	CVCL_0182

Culture Medium	RPMI 1640, w: 2.0 mM stable Glutamine, w: 2.0 g/L NaHCO3 (Cytion article number 820700a)
Supplements	Supplement the medium with 10% FBS
Dissociation Reagent	Accutase
Subculturing	Gather the suspension cells in a 15 ml tube and gently wash the adherent cells with PBS lacking calcium and magnesium (use 3-5 ml for T25 flasks and 5-10 ml for T75 flasks). Apply Accutase (1-2 ml for T25 flasks, 2.5 ml for T75 flasks) ensuring full coverage of the cell layer. Allow the cells to incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes. Following incubation, combine and centrifuge both the suspension and adherent cells. After centrifugation, carefully resuspend the cell pellet and transfer the cell suspension into new flasks containing fresh medium.
Fluid renewal	2 to 3 times per week
Freeze medium	As a cryopreservation medium, we use complete growth medium (including FBS) + 10% DMSO for adequate post-thaw viability, or CM-1 (Cytion catalog number 800100), which includes optimized osmoprotectants and metabolic stabilizers to enhance recovery and reduce cryo-induced stress.
Thawing and Culturing Cells	Confirm that the vial remains deeply frozen upon delivery, as cells are shipped on dry ice to maintain optimal temperatures during transit. Upon receipt, either store the cryovial immediately at temperatures below -150°C to ensure the preservation of cellular integrity, or proceed to step 3 if immediate culturing is required. For immediate culturing, swiftly thaw the vial by immersing it in a 37°C water bath with clean water and an antimicrobial agent, agitating gently for 40-60 seconds until a small ice clump remains. Perform all subsequent steps under sterile conditions in a flow hood, disinfecting the cryovial with 70% ethanol before opening. Carefully open the disinfected vial and transfer the cell suspension into a 15 ml centrifuge tube containing 8 ml of room-temperature culture medium, mixing gently. Centrifuge the mixture at 300 x g for 3 minutes to separate the cells and carefully discard the supernatant containing residual freezing medium. Gently resuspend the cell pellet in 10 ml of fresh culture medium. For adherent cells, divide the suspension between two T25 culture flasks; for suspension cultures, transfer all the medium into one T25 flask to promote effective cell interaction and growth. Adhere to established subculture protocols for continued growth and maintenance of the cell line, ensuring reliable experimental outcomes.
Incubation Atmosphere	37°C, 5% CO₂, humidified atmosphere.
Shipping Conditions	Cryopreserved cell lines are shipped on dry ice in validated, insulated packaging with sufficient refrigerant to maintain approximately −78 °C throughout transit. On receipt, inspect the container immediately and transfer vials without delay to appropriate storage.
Storage Conditions	For long-term preservation, place vials in vapor-phase liquid nitrogen at about −150 to −196 °C. Storage at −80 °C is acceptable only as a short interim step before transfer to liquid nitrogen.

Sterility	Mycoplasma contamination is excluded using both PCR-based assays and luminescence-based mycoplasma detection methods. To ensure there is no bacterial, fungal, or yeast contamination, cell cultures are subjected to daily visual inspections.

Lot Number	Certificate Type	Date	Catalog Number
305156-160724	Certificate of Analysis	18. Aug. 2025	305156
305156-180324	Certificate of Analysis	18. Aug. 2025	305156

If you intend to use Cytion cell lines solely for internal research at a single research site, please complete and sign our Material Transfer Agreement (MTA) and submit it along with your order.

For any commercial applications - including but not limited to fee-for-service work, quality control testing, product release, diagnostic use, or regulatory studies - please complete the Intended Use Form so we can prepare a suitable agreement tailored to your project.

Please note: The MTA applies only to certain cell lines. If this notice and the MTA document appear on a product page, the agreement is applicable. For cell lines not covered by the MTA, no reference to the agreement will be shown. The MTA is not valid for customers in the Americas, China, or Taiwan. Please contact our U.S. entity to receive the appropriate agreement.

Required products

Required products

RPMI 1640, w: 2.0 mM stable Glutamine, w: 2.0 g/L NaHCO3

RPMI 1640 Medium, also known as RPMI medium, is a highly versatile cell culture medium widely utilized in biological research to cultivate various mammalian cells. Developed by George E. Moore, Robert E. Gerner, and H. Addison Franklin in 1966 at the renowned Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, this medium derived its name from its origin at the Roswell Park Memorial Institute (RPMI).
Initially designed to support the growth of human leukemic cells in both suspension and monolayer cultures, RPMI 1640 Medium has evolved through modifications by researchers and commercial suppliers to become suitable for a diverse range of mammalian cells. It is exceptionally compatible with cell lines such as HeLa, Jurkat, MCF-7, PC12, PBMC, astrocytes, and carcinomas.
RPMI 1640 Medium stands apart from other cell culture media due to its unique composition. It contains a substantial amount of phosphate, amino acids, and vitamins. Notably, it encompasses biotin, vitamin B12, and PABA, absent in Eagle's Minimal Essential Medium or Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium. Moreover, RPMI 1640 Medium exhibits significantly elevated concentrations of vitamins inositol and choline. However, it does not contain proteins, lipids, or growth factors. Consequently, supplementation with 10% Fetal Bovine Serum (FBS) is commonly required to provide optimal conditions for cell growth.
The buffering system of RPMI 1640 Medium relies on sodium bicarbonate and necessitates a 5-10% CO2 environment to maintain a physiologically appropriate pH. The inclusion of the reducing agent glutathione further distinguishes this medium from others.
Quality Control

Sterile-filtered

Storage and Shelf Life

Store at +2°C to +8°C, protected from light.
Once opened, store at 4°C and use within 6–8 weeks.

Shipping Conditions

Ambient temperature

Maintenance

Keep refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C in the dark. Avoid freezing and frequent warming to +37°C, as it reduces product quality.
Do not heat the medium beyond 37°C or use uncontrolled heat sources such as microwave appliances.
If only part of the medium is to be used, remove the required amount and warm it to room temperature before use.

Composition

Category
Components
Concentration (mg/L)

Amino Acids
Glycine
10.00

L-Alanyl-L-Glutamine
434.40

L-Arginine
200.00

L-Asparagine H2O
56.82

L-Aspartic Acid
20.00

L-Cystine 2HCl
65.20

L-Glutamic Acid
20.00

L-Histidine HCl H2O
20.27

L-Hydroxy-L-Proline
20.00

L-Isoleucine
50.00

L-Leucine
50.00

L-Lysine HCl
40.00

L-Methionine
15.00

L-Phenylalanine
15.00

L-Proline
20.00

L-Serine
30.00

L-Threonine
20.00

L-Tryptophan
5.00

L-Tyrosine 2Na 2H2O
28.83

L-Valine
20.00

Vitamins
p-Amino Benzoic Acid
1.00

D-Biotin
0.20

Choline Chloride
3.00

D-Calcium Pantothenate
0.25

Folic Acid
1.00

myo-Inositol
35.00

Nicotinamide
1.00

Pyridoxine HCl
1.00

Riboflavin
0.20

Thiamine HCl
1.00

Vitamin B12
0.005

Inorganic Salts
Ca(NO3)2 4H2O
100.00

KCl
400.00

MgSO4 7H2O
100.00

NaCl
6000.00

NaHCO3
2000.00

Na2HPO4
800.00

Other Components
D-Glucose
2000.00

L-Glutathione Reduced
1.00

Phenol Red Sodium Salt
5.30

€25.00*

Accutase

Variants: 100 ml

Accutase Cell Dissociation Reagent
- A Gentle Alternative to Trypsin
Accutase is a cell detachment solution that is revolutionizing the cell culture industry. It is a mix of proteolytic and collagenolytic enzymes that mimics the action of trypsin and collagenase. Unlike trypsin, Accutase does not contain any mammalian or bacterial components and is much gentler on cells, making it an ideal solution for the routine detachment of cells from standard tissue culture plasticware and adhesion coated plasticware. In this blog post, we will explore the benefits and uses of Accutase and how it is changing the game in cell culture.
Advantages of Accutase
Accutase has several advantages over traditional trypsin solutions. Firstly, it can be used whenever gentle and efficient detachment of any adherent cell line is needed, making it a direct replacement for trypsin. Secondly, Accutase works extremely well on embryonic and neuronal stem cells, and it has been shown to maintain the viability of these cells after passaging. Thirdly, Accutase preserves most epitopes for subsequent flow cytometry analysis, making it ideal for cell surface marker analysis.
Additionally, Accutase does not need to be neutralized when passaging adherent cells. The addition of more media after the cells are split dilutes Accutase so it is no longer able to detach cells. This eliminates the need for an inactivation step and saves time for cell culture technicians. Finally, Accutase does not need to be aliquoted, and a bottle is stable in the refrigerator for 2 months.
Applications of Accutase
Accutase is a direct replacement for trypsin solution and can be used for the passaging of cell lines. Additionally, Accutase performs well when detaching cells for the analysis of many cell surface markers using flow cytometry and for cell sorting. Other downstream applications of Accutase treatment include analysis of cell surface markers, virus growth assay, cell proliferation, tumor cell migration assays, routine cell passage, production scale-up (bioreactor), and flow cytometry.
Composition of Accutase
Accutase contains no mammalian or bacterial components and is a natural enzyme mixture with proteolytic and collagenolytic enzyme activity. It is formulated at a much lower concentration than trypsin and collagenase, making it less toxic and gentler, but just as effective.
Efficiency of Accutase
Accutase has been shown to be efficient in detaching primary and stem cells and maintaining high cell viability compared to animal origin enzymes such as trypsin. 100% of cells are recovered after 10 minutes, and there is no harm in leaving cells in Accutase for up to 45 minutes, thanks to autodigestion of Accutase.
In summary
In conclusion, Accutase is a powerful solution that is changing the game in cell culture. With its gentle nature, efficiency, and versatility, Accutase is the ideal alternative to trypsin. If you are looking for a reliable and efficient solution for cell detachment, Accutase is the solution for you.

€75.00*

PBS

Phosphate-Buffered Saline (PBS) Solution
Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) is a widely used buffer solution in biological and chemical research. It plays a crucial role in maintaining the pH balance and osmolarity during various experimental procedures, including tissue processing and cell culture. Our PBS solution is meticulously formulated with high-purity ingredients to ensure stability and reliability in every experiment. The osmolarity and ion concentrations of our PBS closely mimic those of the human body, making it isotonic and non-toxic to most cells.

Composition of Our PBS Solution
Our PBS solution is a pH-adjusted blend of ultrapure-grade phosphate buffers and saline solutions. At a 1X working concentration, it contains:

8000 mg/L Sodium chloride (NaCl)
200 mg/L Potassium chloride (KCl)
1150 mg/L Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous (Na2HPO4)
200 mg/L Potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous (KH2PO4)

This composition ensures an optimal pH and ionic balance, suitable for a wide range of biological applications.

Applications of Our PBS Solution
Our PBS solution is ideal for various applications in biological research. Its isotonic and non-toxic properties make it suitable for substance dilution and cell container rinsing. PBS solutions containing EDTA are effective for disengaging attached and clumped cells. However, divalent metals such as zinc should not be added to PBS, as this can cause precipitation. In such cases, Good's buffers are recommended. Additionally, our PBS solution is an acceptable alternative to viral transport medium for the transport and storage of RNA viruses, including SARS-CoV-2.

Quality Control

Sterile-filtered

Storage and Shelf Life

Store at +2°C to +25°C, protected from light.
Once opened, store at 2°C to 25°C and use within 24 months.

Shipping Conditions

Ambient temperature

Maintenance

Keep refrigerated at +2°C to +8°C in the dark. Avoid freezing and frequent warming to +37°C, as it reduces product quality.
Do not heat the medium beyond 37°C or use uncontrolled heat sources such as microwave appliances.
If only part of the medium is to be used, remove the required amount and warm it to room temperature before use.

Composition

Category
Components
Concentration (mg/L)

Salts
Potassium chloride
200

Potassium phosphate monobasic anhydrous
200

Sodium chloride
8000

Sodium phosphate dibasic anhydrous
1150

€20.00*

BV2 Cells

Insights on BV2 cells

Specifications

Documentation

Genetics of the BV2 microglia cell line

Handling

BV2 cell quality assurance

Certificate of Analysis (CoA)

Material Transfer Agreement