title: Neuralization of mouse embryonic stem cells in alginate hydrogels under retinoic acid and SAG treatment.
abstract: This paper examines the differentiation of a mouse embryonic stem cell line (CGR8) into neurons, under retinoic acid (RA) and smoothened agonist (SAG) treatment. When stem cells underwent through an embryoid body (EB) formation stage, dissociation and seeding on glass coverslips, immunofluorescent labelling for neuronal markers (Nestin, b-Tubulin III, MAP2) revealed the presence of both immature neural progenitors and mature neurons. Undifferentiated CGR8 were also encapsulated in tubular, alginate-gelatin hydrogels and incubated in differentiation media containing retinoic acid (RA) and smoothened agonist (SAG). Cryo-sections of the hydrogel tubes were positive for Nestin, Pax6 and b-Tubulin III, verifying the presence of neurons and neural progenitors. Provided neural induction can be more precisely directed in the tubular hydrogels, these scaffolds will become a powerful model of neural tube development in embryos and will highlight potential strategies for spinal cord regeneration.
authors.forename: Evangelos
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Delivopoulos
authors.forename: Kevin M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shakesheff
authors.forename: Heather
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peto
mesh_terms: D000464:Alginates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D003514:Cyclohexylamines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel; D020723:Glucuronic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D006603:Hexuronic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D020100:Hydrogels / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D000066450:Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013876:Thiophenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000464:Alginates; D003514:Cyclohexylamines; D006603:Hexuronic Acids; D020100:Hydrogels; C468918:SAG compound; D013876:Thiophenes; D014212:Tretinoin; D020723:Glucuronic Acid