Minimum Essential Medium Eagle (MEM) is a synthetic cell culture media, developed by Harry Eagle. It has high concentrations of amino acids, so the medium closely approximates the protein concentration of cultured mammalian cells. Optional supplementation of non-essential amino acids to the formulations that incorporate either Hanks′ or Earle′s salts has increased the applicability of this medium. This medium lacks calcium that permits the growth of cells in suspension. Modification of the original MEM formulation. Earle′s salts have been replaced with Hanks′ salts. Since the bicarbonate concentration is substantially lower, this medium has a substantially reduced buffering capacity.

Minimum Essential Medium Eagle (MEM) has been used:

• as a component of the Hank′s MEM (HMEM)-Pipes buffer to induce anaphylatoxin induced-ear swelling in mice
• as a component of the slice culture medium (SCM) for the incubation of mouse hippocampal slice cultures
• to culture Müller cells from guinea pigs

Formulated to contain 10.6 grams of powder per liter of medium.

Supplement with 0.35 g/L sodium bicarbonate.