title: The embryonic stem cell test.
abstract: The embryonic stem cell test is an animal-free alternative test method for developmental toxicity. Mouse embryonic stem cells are cultured in a hanging drop method to form embryoid bodies. These embryoid bodies, when plated on tissue culture dishes, differentiate to form contracting myocardial cell foci within 10 days. Inhibition of cardiomyocyte differentiation by test compounds serves as the end point of the assay, as monitored by counting contracting muscle foci under the microscope.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Health Protection Research-National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands. sjors.schulpen@rivm.nl
authors.forename: Sjors H W
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Schulpen
authors.forename: Aldert H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Piersma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000633:toxicity; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D039904:Pluripotent Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D003603:Cytotoxins