In 1976, Guilbert and Iscove demonstrated that precursor cells of erythrocytes and macrophages
could be cultured in a reduced-serum medium supplemented with albumin, transferrin, lecithin, and selenium. Iscove's medium is a modification of Dulbecco's Modified Eagle's Medium (DME)
containing selenium, additional amino acids and vitamins, sodium pyruvate, HEPES buffer, and
potassium nitrate instead of ferric nitrate.