Isolation and culture of rabbit embryonic stem cells

Mammalian stem cells are invaluable research resources for the study of cell and embryonic development as well as practical tools for use in the production of genetically engineered animals and further therapeutics. It is important that we further our knowledge and understanding of a variety of stem cells from several different animal species before trials in humans commence. Here we describe methods for establishing rabbit embryonic stem (rES) cell lines with indefinite proliferation potential. rES cells attain maximum proliferation potential when cultured at a feeder cell density of one-sixth of that of full confluency. Higher and lower densities of feeder cells induced ES cell differentiation or division arrest. Fibroblast growth factor (FGF)2 can maintain the undifferentiated status of rES cells; however leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) is dispensable. Under optimized conditions, rES cells could be passaged by trypsinization 50 times. This culture system enabled efficient gene transduction and clonal expansion from single cells. rES cells grew as flat monolayer cell colonies, as reported for monkey and human ES cells, and expressed pluripotency markers. Embryoid bodies and teratomas formed readily in vitro and in vivo, respectively. Characterization of ES cells from different species is important for establishing common features of pluripotency. We have demonstrated the similarity of ES cells between rabbit and humans. These cell lines could be applied directly using gene-targeting techniques, or in combination with induced pluripotent stem cells. Thus, rES cells are a suitable model for studying human transplantation therapy and disease treatments.