Gestational length in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus

We report a possible case of extended gestation in the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus. Birth of a pouch young was first observed 127 days after the removal of the male from a multi-female colony at Taronga Zoo. No other males were present at that time or had access to the facility. Head measurements and other growth data collected at the time of detection and over the period of pouch life indicates the time from removal of the male and the date of birth to be between 50 and 77 days. DNA fingerprinting using microsatellite loci unambiguously assigned paternity of the pouch young to this male.

These observations suggest either an extended period of gestation of at least 50 days, or activation of a dormant blastocyst from the previous breeding season, as the female entered the period of seasonal oestrus.     

A molecular view on pluripotent stem cells

Pluripotent stem cells are undifferentiated cells that are capable of differentiating to all three embryonic germ layers and their differentiated derivatives. They are transiently found during embryogenesis, in preimplantation embryos and fetal gonads, or as established cell lines. These unique cell types are distinguished by their wide developmental potential and by their ability to be propagated in culture indefinitely, without loosing their undifferentiated phenotype. This short review intends to give a general overview on the pluripotent nature of embryo-derived stem cells with a focus on human embryonic stem cells.     

Drosophila crooked-neck protein co-fractionates in a multiprotein complex with splicing factors

The Drosophila crooked neck (crn) gene encodes an unusual TPR-containing protein whose function is essential for embryonic development. Homology with other TPR-proteins involved in cell cycle control, initially led to the proposal that Crn might play a critical role in regulation of embryonic cell divisions. Here, we show that Crn does not have a cell cycle function in the embryo. By using specific antibodies we also show that the Crn protein is a nuclear protein which localizes in "speckles" which could correspond to preferential localization of several other splicing factors. Fractionation of nuclear extracts on sucrose gradients revealed Crn in a 900 kDa multiproteic complex together with snRNPs, suggesting that Crn participates in the assembly of the splicing machinery in vivo.     

DWnt-4 and Wingless have distinct activities in the Drosophila dorsal epidermis

Wnt genes are often expressed in overlapping patterns, where they affect a wide array of developmental processes. To address the way in which various Wnt signals elicit distinct effects we compared the activities of two Wnt genes in Drosophila, DWnt-4, and wingless. We show that these Wnt signals produce distinct responses in cells of the dorsal embryonic epidermis. Whereas wingless acts independently of hedgehog signaling in these cells, we show that DWnt-4 requires Hh to elicit its effects. We also show that expression of Wg signal transduction components does not mimic expression of DWnt-4, suggesting that DWnt-4 signaling proceeds through a distinct pathway. The dorsal epidermis may therefore be useful in the identification of novel Wnt signaling components. Received: 16 August 1999 / Accepted: 19 August 1999     

小鼠胚胎干细胞在六种培养体系的培养观察

目的　观察小鼠胚胎干细胞在六种培养体系中的生长情况。方法　小鼠胚胎干细胞 (ESD3细胞株 )在以下六种培养体系中培养 :1 .原代小鼠胚胎成纤维细胞 (MEF)有血清培养 ,2 .MEF无血清培养 ,3.SNL细胞有血清培养 ,4.LIF(白血病抑制因子 )有血清无饲养层培养 ,5.LIF无血清无饲养层培养 ,6.大鼠肝细胞 (BRL)条件培养基培养。经体外培养 1 0代后 ,观察其克隆形态 ,同时进行碱性磷酸酶检测并将ES细胞接种于裸小鼠皮下 ,观察ESD3的未分化状态和多潜能性。结果　六种培养体系培养的ESD3具有典型的ES细胞克隆形态 :巢状 (集落状 )隆起生长 ,边缘清楚 ,表面平滑 ,结构致密 ;AKP强阳性 ;裸小鼠体内形成了由多种组织构成的畸胎瘤。结论　六种培养体系均能支持ESD3生长 ,并能保持其未分化性和多潜能性 ,为ES细胞的应用研究奠定了良好的基础。     

饲养层细胞对绵羊胚胎干细胞体外培养的影响

家畜胚胎干细胞(embryonic stem cell,ES细胞)的研究进展缓慢,绵羊ES细胞的研究虽早有报道,但仍未建立可稳定传代的细胞系。在已建立的绵羊体外受精发育体系的基础上,摸索了饲养层(Feeder)细胞对绵羊ES细胞生长的影响,包括在一定的丝裂霉素浓度下处理Feeder的时间、细胞种类、代数、接种密度及新鲜制备和冷冻复苏后的Feeder细胞,通过试验比较研究,目的在于筛选合适的饲养层细胞,为建立绵羊ES细胞体外培养体系奠定基础。结果表明,10μg/ml丝裂霉素C处理2~2.5h获得的1~5代的SEF和1~3代的MEF及两者的1∶1混合细胞都能较好地支持绵羊ES细胞的生长。     

大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞抵抗人血清介导的异种体液免疫杀伤作用及其机制

目的：研究大鼠骨髓间充干细胞（rBMSC）抵抗人血清介导的异种体液性杀伤的作用及其主要机制。方法：分离培养SD 大 鼠BMSC,将第4 代的rBMSC 作为实验材料,以大鼠淋巴细胞（rLC）作为对照。采用流式细胞技术,检查两种细胞异种抗原alpha-Gal 的表达情况,体积分数20%正常人血清对两种细胞的杀伤作用、两种细胞分别与正常人血清中天然抗体IgM 和IgG的结合情况, 以及与正常人血清作用后补体C3c、C4c、C5b-9 在两种细胞上的沉积情况。结果：成功分离和培养rBMSC。相对于rLC,rBMSC 对 人血清介导的异种体液性杀伤具有明显的抵抗作用（P＜0.01）;rBMSC 上alpha-Gal的表达显著低于rLC（P＜0.05）;rBMSC 与人血清 中IgG和IgM的结合量显著低于rLC（P＜0.01）;与正常人血清作用后,rLC 可见显著的C3c、C4c 和C5b-9 沉积,但rBMSC仅有 较少C3c 和C4c 沉积,两种细胞间比较,差异均有统计学意义（P＜0.01）。结论：rBMSC 能明显抵抗人血清介导的异种体液免疫杀 伤作用,其机制可能与rBMSC 低表达异种抗原琢-Gal及抑制了补体攻膜复合物形成有关。     

Current focus of stem cell application in retinal repair

The relevance of retinal diseases, both in society’s economy and in the quality of people’s life who suffer with them, has made stem cell therapy an interesting topic forresearch. Embryonic stem cells(ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells(i PSCs) and adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells(ADMSCs) are the focus in current endeavors as a source of different retinal cells, such as photoreceptors and retinal pigment epithelial cells. The aim is to apply them for cell replacement as an option for treating retinal diseases which so far are untreatable in their advanced stage. ESCs, despite the great potential for differentiation, have the dangerous risk of teratoma formation as well as ethical issues, which must be resolved before starting a clinical trial. i PSCs, like ESCs, are able to differentiate in to several types of retinal cells. However, the process to get them for personalized cell therapy has a high cost in terms of time and money. Researchers are working to resolve this since i PSCs seem to be a realistic option for treating retinal diseases. ADMSCs have the advantage that the procedures to obtain them are easier. Despite advancements in stem cell application, there are still several challenges that need to be overcome before transferring the research results to clinical application. This paper reviews recent research achievements of the applications of these three types of stem cells as well as clinical trials currently based on them.     

Rationally optimized cryopreservation of multiple mouse embryonic stem cell lines: I—Comparative fundamental cryobiology of multiple mouse embryonic stem cell lines and the implications for embryonic stem cell cryopreservation protocols

The post-thaw recovery of mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) is often assumed to be adequate with current methods. However as this publication will show, this recovery of viable cells actually varies significantly by genetic background. Therefore there is a need to improve the efficiency and reduce the variability of current mESC cryopreservation methods. To address this need, we employed the principles of fundamental cryobiology to improve the cryopreservation protocol of four mESC lines from different genetic backgrounds (BALB/c, CBA, FVB, and 129R1 mESCs) through a comparative study characterizing the membrane permeability characteristics and membrane integrity osmotic tolerance limits of each cell line. In the companion paper, these values were used to predict optimal cryoprotectants, cooling rates, warming rates, and plunge temperatures, and then these predicted optimal protocols were validated against standard freezing protocols.