A. MANGALA GOWRI, C. BAI ACHANDRAN ,AND A. MAIIALINGA NAINAR
Abstract
Stem cells are specialized undifferentiated cells in the body capable to form different tissue derivatives. Their unique characteristic's make them very promising lor supplying cells to tissue engineering in replacement therapies and to treat debilitating diseases (Uorue ct al. 2004). The stern cells from embryos of mouse C57BIJ6J were isolated using immuno-surgical destruction of trophectoderm cells and by selective isolation of inner cell mass (ICM). ICM cells were cultured in ES cell culture medium and small nest of embryonic stem cell colonies were obtained. Transplanting into the testicular interstitium Of mice assessed the ectopic differentiation potential of stern cells. The transplanted animals were checked for teratorna formation and analysed the transplants for tissue differentiation. Out of 18 mice transplanted with ESC, 14 contained tumors and the tissue types in 77% mice showed a variety of differentiated cell types comprising of all three germ layers.