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Neural Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells at the Ultrastructural Level

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 January 2010

Jennifer L. Mumaw
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center, Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Sciences, 425 River Road, Room 427, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
Dave Machacek
Affiliation:
ArunA Biomedical, Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Sciences, 425 River Road, Room 452, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
John P. Shields
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Center for Ultrastructural Research, 151 Barrow Hall, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
Mahesh C. Dodla
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center, Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Sciences, 425 River Road, Room 427, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
Sujoy K. Dhara
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center, Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Sciences, 425 River Road, Room 427, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
Steve L. Stice*
Affiliation:
University of Georgia, Regenerative Bioscience Center, Rhodes Center for Animal and Dairy Sciences, 425 River Road, Room 427, Athens, GA 30602-2771, USA
*
Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Neurodegerative disorders affect millions of people worldwide. Neural cells derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) have the potential for cell therapies and/or compound screening for treating affected individuals. While both protein and gene expression indicative of a neural phenotype has been exhibited in these differentiated cells, ultrastuctural studies thus far have been lacking. The objective of this study was to correlate hESC to neural differentiation culture conditions with ultrastructural changes observed in the treated cells. We demonstrate here that in basic culture conditions without growth factors or serum we obtain neural morphology. The addition of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and serum to cultures resulted in more robust neural differentiation. In addition to providing cues such as cell survival or lineage specification, additional factors also altered the intracellular structures and cell morphologies. Even though the addition of BDNF and serum did not increase synaptic formation, altered cellular structures such as abundant polyribosomes and more developed endoplasmic reticulum indicate a potential increase in protein production.

Type
Biological Imaging: Techniques Development and Applications
Copyright
Copyright © Microscopy Society of America 2010

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References

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