title: The fine structure of human germ layers in vivo: clues to the early differentiation of embryonic stem cells in vitro.
abstract: The fine structure of the three germ layers in human ectopic embryos (stage 7) have been documented by digital light and electron microscopy. The formation of ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm and notochordal cells, and also the extraembryonic membranes, amnion and yolk sac, are imaged. The germ layers give rise to all the cells and tissues of the human body. Possible clues to the early differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESC) in vitro were obtained, since these events are more or less mimicked in cultures of ESC derived from the inner cell mass of human blastocysts. The findings are discussed with reference to previous studies on the fine structure of ESC using the same technique.
authors.affiliation: Monash Immunology and Stem Cell Laboratories, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. henry.sathananthan@med.monash.edu.au
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sathananthan
authors.forename: Kamala
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Selvaraj
authors.forename: Joan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000650:Amnion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D004475:Ectoderm / Q000473:pathology; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D004707:Endoderm / Q000473:pathology; D005855:Germ Layers; D006801:Humans; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000473:pathology; D008854:Microscopy, Electron / Q000379:methods; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / Q000379:methods; D008938:Mitosis; D054240:Primitive Streak / Q000473:pathology