Re: Will ether harm RAW 264.7 macrophages?

Hello, 

Usually, the solvent of choice is DMSO (DiMethylSulfOxide). Up to 1 or 2 % 
there should be no 
visual effect on the cells, but there might be a subcellular effect, 
especially for the markers you want to measure. I have never tested 
diethyl 
ether on cells, but I expect it should have the same effect on membranes 
as chloroform. Methane ? You mean methanol, probably. Alcohols will have 
the worst effect on your cells, dont go more than 1/1000. Thus, I would 
say : 
- Check at the company where the chemicals come from, or on the data 
sheet. There should be a chemist able to tell you in which solvent you 
have the maximum solubility. 
- Once you have this, extrapolate the final concentration of your solvent 
in your culture. Try to minimize it. For example, if you can make 2mM in 
DMSO, and the highest concentration in your study is 10uM, test a 0.5% 
DMSO culture, and make a time-curve of your markers expression of the DMSO 
versus non-DMSO. If you have no effect, it's perfect.

Try to check in your bibliography. You are probably not the very first to 
use this chemical. Other tips I can give you are : 
DMF (DiMethylFormamide) is more stinky but solubilizes as well as DMSO
For really non-cooperative chemicals, an hour sonication should do the 
job...

Hope it helps...

Good luck...

S.