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Source and nature of embryonic stem cells
1Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Museum Avenue, PO Box 911, Cardiff CF10 3US, UK. evansmj@cf.ac.uk
Comptes Rendus Biologies
|December 24, 2002
Summary
Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells can be derived from various early developmental stages, including blastocysts and epiblasts. While traditionally isolated from delayed blastocysts, alternative methods offer flexibility in stem cell derivation.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Stem Cell Biology
- Embryology
Background:
- Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are crucial for developmental biology research.
- Traditional isolation methods utilize implantationally-delayed blastocysts.
- Understanding alternative derivation methods is important for stem cell research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the original and alternative methods for isolating mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells.
- To investigate the developmental origins and homologies of ES cells.
Main Methods:
- Explantation of implantationally-delayed blastocysts into tissue culture.
- Disaggregation of inner cell mass (ICM) colonies and culture on feeder layers.
- Alternative derivation from cleavage-stage embryos and early embryonic epiblast.
Main Results:
- ES cells can be derived from various embryonic stages, not exclusively delayed blastocysts.
- The proliferation of the ICM on fibroblast feeder layers forms ES cell colonies.
- ES cells may be more homologous to five-day epiblast than ICM cells.
Conclusions:
- Mouse ES cell isolation is adaptable to different embryonic starting materials.
- The developmental origin of ES cells influences their characteristics.
- Flexible derivation methods enhance the utility of mouse ES cells in research.