title: Derivation of hESC from intact blastocysts.
abstract: This unit describes protocols for culturing human embryos and deriving human embryonic stem cells from the intact blastocyst. Description of the culturing begins with methods for obtaining human blastocysts using pronuclear or cleavage stage embryos left over after in vitro fertilization. Then there is a description of methods that can be used to derive human embryonic stem cell lines from the blastocyst without trophectoderm removal. Also included is a discussion of the critical steps and parameters such as zona pellucida removal, embryo quality assessment, feeder selection, when and how to transfer early embryonic outgrowths. In addition, there are protocols for embryo thawing, seeding of feeder cells, gelatin coating of plates, cleavage and blastocyst stage embryo grading, preparation and storage of reagents and solutions. Finally, there is a discussion of alternative derivation approaches as well as the timeline for the procedures.
authors.affiliation: University of California, San Francisco, California, USA.
authors.forename: Dusko
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ilic
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Genbacev
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Krtolica
mesh_terms: D001755:Blastocyst / Q000166:cytology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002469:Cell Separation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015044:Zona Pellucida / Q000648:ultrastructure