Developmental neurotoxicity screening using human embryonic stem cells

Assessment of Developmental Toxicants using Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have potential for use in evaluation of developmental toxicity because they are generated in large numbers and differentiate into three germ layers following formation of embryoid bodies (EBs). In earlier study, embryonic stem cell test (EST) was established for assessment of the embryotoxic potential of compounds. Using EBs indicating the onset of differentiation of m...

Emerging model in anesthetic developmental neurotoxicity: human stem cells.

It is well known that the prolonged exposure of developing animals such as rodents and non-human primates to general anesthetics can induce widespread neuronal cell death followed by long-term memory and learning disabilities [1-7]. The field of anesthetic neurotoxicity research is rapidly evolving and expanding, allowing for contribution to a better understanding the underlying molecular and c...

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into neurons

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocyst stage embryos. These unique cell lines have the potential to form virtually any cell type in the body and can be propagated in vitro indefinitely in an undifferentiated state. These cells are capable of forming embryoid bodies (EB) that contain cells from all three embryonic lin...

Growing Knowledge: Using Stem Cells to Study Developmental Neurotoxicity

Differentiation of human embryonic stem cells into neurons

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are undifferentiated pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of blastocyst stage embryos. These unique cell lines have the potential to form virtually any cell type in the body and can be propagated in vitro indefinitely in an undifferentiated state. These cells are capable of forming embryoid bodies (EB) that contain cells from all three embryonic lin...