Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells: Advances in Technology

Mouse embryonic stem cells,which are most intensively studied among all kinds of animal embryonic stem cells,have been widely used in studies of differentiation and signal transduction of cells,identification and function of new genes,organogenesis,pathogenesis of human diseases,pharmaceutical development.Establishment of embryonic stem cell lines is a kind of basic work,and its related technologies have been increasingly improved and have become the routine technologies in some strains.However,there exist significant differences in methods,schemes and efficiencies when different strains are used for developing embryonic stem cell lines.The methods for establishing embryonic stem cell lines of one strain of mice do not always work when other strains are used to establish embryonic stem cell lines,especially when used in different laboratories.This paper focuses on addressing technological advances in embryonic stem cell establishment,including methods,isolation procedures,culture systems,and pluripotency maintenance.