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Tuning Differentiation Signals for Efficient Propagation and In Vitro Validation of Rat Embryonic Stem Cell Cultures

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Stem Cell Renewal and Cell-Cell Communication

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 1212))

Abstract

The rat is one of the most commonly used laboratory animals in biomedical research and the recent isolation of genuine pluripotent rat embryonic stem (ES) cell lines has provided new opportunities for applying contemporary genetic engineering techniques to the rat and enhancing the use of this rodent in scientific research. Technical refinements that improve the stability of the rat ES cell cultures will undoubtedly further strengthen and broaden the use of these stem cells in biomedical research. Here, we describe a relatively simple and robust protocol that supports the propagation of germ line competent rat ES cells, and outline how tuning stem cell signaling using small molecule inhibitors can be used to both stabilize self-renewal of rat ES cell cultures and aid evaluation of their differentiation potential in vitro.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council, the Roslin Foundation, and from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007–2013) under grant agreement No. HEALTH-F4-2010-241504 (EURATRANS).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Roslin Institute and R(D)VS, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK

    Stephen Meek, Linda Sutherland & Tom Burdon

Authors
  1. Stephen Meek
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  2. Linda Sutherland
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  3. Tom Burdon
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephen Meek .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Meek, S., Sutherland, L., Burdon, T. (2014). Tuning Differentiation Signals for Efficient Propagation and In Vitro Validation of Rat Embryonic Stem Cell Cultures. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Stem Cell Renewal and Cell-Cell Communication. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 1212. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2014_121

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/7651_2014_121

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-2589-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-2590-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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