Reproduction Abstracts

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of the blastocyst. They proliferate by self-renewal and have the potential to develop into all cells of the three germ layers. Thus, hESCs hold great potential for use in regenerative medicine. hESCs are difficult to maintain in culture and have a tendency to spontaneously differentiate. Culture at a low, 5% oxygen concentration is beneficial for the maintenance of a wholly pluripotent cell population comp...

Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) proliferate by self-renewal and hold much promise for regenerative medicine since they have the potential to develop into all cells of the body. In culture, hESCs are difficult to maintain as they have a propensity to spontaneously differentiate. A low, 5% oxygen concentration (hypoxia) promotes hESC maintenance but the mechanisms which regulate this effect are unknown. We hypothesise that changes in environmental oxygen alter the expression ...