title: Karyotypic analysis of adult pluripotent stem cells.
abstract: Three categories of precursor cells have been identified in postnatal mammals: tissue-committed progenitor cells, germ layer lineage-committed stem cells and lineage-uncommitted pluripotent stem cells. Progenitor cells are the immediate precursors of differentiated tissues. Germ layer lineage stem cells can be induced to form multiple cell types belonging to their respective ectodermal, mesodermal, and endodermal embryological lineages. Pluripotent stem cells will form somatic cell types from all three primary germ layer lineages. Progenitor cells demonstrate a finite life span before replicative senescence and cell death occur. Both germ layer lineage stem cells and pluripotent stem cells are telomerase positive and display extensive capabilities for self-renewal. Stem cells which undergo such extensive replication have the potential for undergoing mutations that may subsequently alter cellular functions. Gross mutations in the genome may be visualized as chromosomal aneuploidy and/or chromosomes that appear aberrant. This study was designed to determine whether any gross genomic mutations occurred within the adult pluripotent stem cells. Karyotypic analysis was performed using pluripotent stem cells purified from adult male rats using established procedures. Giemsa Banding was used in conjunction with light microscopy to visualize metaphase chromosome spreads. To date over 800 metaphase spreads have been analyzed. We found that the metaphase spreads averaged 42 chromosomes and concluded that these pluripotent stem cells isolated from adult rats have a normal karyotype.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Medical Sciences, Mercer University School of Medicine, 1550 College Street, Macon, GA 31207, USA.
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Henson
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Heaton
authors.forename: B H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Holland
authors.forename: K C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hawkins
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Rawlings
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Eanes
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Bozof
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Powell
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Grau
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Fortney
authors.forename: B G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Peebles
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: J-I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: K N
authors.initials: KN
authors.lastname: Godby
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sood
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hixson
authors.forename: F P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bowyer
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Young
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D033481:Chromosomes, Mammalian / Q000235:genetics; D007621:Karyotyping; D008297:Male; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D011920:Rats, Inbred WF