Pluripotent human embryonic stem (hES) cells can differentiate into various cell types derived from the three embryonic germ layers and extraembryonic tissues such as trophoblasts. The mechanisms governing lineage choices of hES cells are largely unknown. Here, we report that we established two independent hES cell clones lacking a group of cell surface molecules, glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol...

Embryonic stem (ES) cell lines derived from human blastocysts have the developmental potential to form derivatives of all three embryonic germ layers even after prolonged culture. Here we describe the clonal derivation of two human ES cell lines, H9.1 and H9.2. At the time of the clonal derivation of the H9.1 and H9.2 ES cell lines, the parental ES cell line, H9, had already been continuously c...

Pigs serve as a better research model for human beings than other species. The Chinese laboratory miniature pig is a new laboratory animal and is expected to be applicable in many medical research fields. This study was to establish effective technologies to isolate and culture ES cells in Chinese miniature pigs. For isolation of the inner cell mass from blastocysts, an enzyme-digestive method ...

A case of chondroectodermal dysplasia (Ellis-van Creveld syndrome) with a remarkable number of the classic oral and dental changes is described. This syndrome involves all embryonic tissue layers and is polysymptomatic; yet some oral and dental manifestations are pathognomonic and must be considered in primary diagnostic criteria. However, in some patients, these oral and dental manifestations ...

Base layers of untransformed normal embryonic lung fibroblasts in different stages of growth were challenged with RSV (Rous sarcoma virus)-transformed bovine fibroblasts. The effect of this admixture on the growth of the RSV-transformed cells was studied. In all cases, the transformed cells proliferated freely, and it is concluded that the normal cells exerted no inhibition on the transformed c...

We measured cell death in the retinas of embryonic and adult teleost fish using TUNEL staining. Following a wave of cell birth during embryogenesis that generates all retinal cell types except rods, cell death occurs in all three nuclear layers. The lack of a corresponding pattern of cell death in the growing adult margin suggests different roles for death during embryogenesis and adult neuroge...

The afferent and efferent connections of the cerebral neocortex develop simultaneously toward the end of embryogenesis. At this stage, the neocortex comprises two main cell-dense layers: the thicker and more superficial cortical plate (future layers 2-6) and the thinner underlying subplate. Many early thalamocortical projections temporarily innervate the subplate before leaving it to locate the...

Human embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent cells derived from the inner cell mass of in vitro fertilized human blastocysts. We examined the potential of eight growth factors [basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF), transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), activin-A, bone morphogenic protein 4 (BMP-4), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), beta nerve growth fact...

BACKGROUND Epiblasts occur at the last pluripotent stage of embryonic development and are important in elucidating how the three germ layers are formed. However, little is known of the molecular mechanisms of their development. We have shown that LIM homeobox 1 (Lhx1) was involved in epiblast development in embryonic stem cells, especially meso- and endodermal differentiation. However, since ep...

Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells are pluripotent and retain their potential to form cells, tissues and organs originated from three embryonic germ layers. Recently, we developed in vitro organ--gut-like structures--from mouse ES cells. They had basically similar morphological features to a mouse gastrointestinal tract in vivo composed of three distinct layers (i.e., epithelium, connective tissue...