Dexamethasone, 500 mg

A synthetic glucocorticoid supplied by STEMCELL Technologies, chemically similar to the natural glucocorticoid hydrocortisone. The compound acts as a glucocorticoid pathway activator and shows an increased affinity for glucocorticoid receptors compared with hydrocortisone (Kd = 5 nM versus 17 nM).

Key identifiers include the chemical name 9-fluoro-11b,17a,21-trihydroxy-16-methyl-pregna-1,4-diene-3,20-dione, CAS number 50-02-2, molecular formula C22H29FO5, and molecular weight 392.5 g/mol. Reported purity is ≥ 98%. Synonyms listed for the compound include MK 125 and NSC 34521, and the physical appearance is a crystalline solid. Published research applications include promotion of transdifferentiation of hepatocytes from mouse pancreatic cells, promotion of osteogenic, adipogenic, and chondrogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal cells, promotion of differentiation of mature hepatocytes from mouse and human embryonic stem cells, and promotion of maturation of fetal mouse hepatocytes.

The product is stable at -20°C as supplied and should be protected from prolonged exposure to light. Solubility values reported are ~30 mg/mL in DMSO, ~25 mg/mL in DMF, ~3 mg/mL in ethanol, and ~0.1 mg/mL in a 1:10 solution of DMSO:PBS (pH 7.2). Stock solutions can be prepared in DMSO (≤ 75 mM) or absolute ethanol (≤ 7.5 mM); the compound has low solubility in aqueous media and, for use as a cell culture supplement, stock should be diluted into culture medium immediately before use with final DMSO concentration kept below 0.1%. Hazard classification under the 2012 OSHA Hazard Communication Standard places the substance in Reproductive Toxicity Category 2 and Specific Target Organ Toxicity (repeated exposure) Category 2, with statements "Suspected of damaging fertility or the unborn child" and "May cause damage to organs through prolonged or repeated exposure." The reported oral LD50 in rats is > 3,000 mg/kg.