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Use of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in Embryotoxicity Assays

The Embryonic Stem Cell Test

  • Protocol
Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Biology ((MIMB,volume 329))

Abstract

The embryonic stem cell test (EST) takes advantage of the potential of murine embryonic stem (ES) cells to differentiate in culture to test embryotoxicity in vitro. The EST represents a scientifically validated in vitro system for the classification of compounds according to their teratogenic potential based on the morphological analysis of beating cardiomyocytes in embryoid body outgrowths compared to cytotoxic effects on murine ES cells and differentiated 3T3 fibroblasts. Through a number of prevalidation and validation studies, the EST has been demonstrated to be a reliable alternative method for embryotoxicity testing based on the most important mechanisms in embryotoxicity-cytotoxicity and differentiation- as well as on differences in sensitivity between differentiated and embryonic tissues. Improvements of the EST protocol using flow cytometry analysis showed that differential expression of sarcomeric myosin heavy chain and á-actinin proteins quantified under the influence of a test compound is a useful marker for detecting potential teratogenicity. The in vitro embryotoxicity test described in this chapter is rapid, simple, and sensitive and can be usefully employed as a component of the risk/hazard assessment process.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Center for Documentation and Evaluation of Alternative Methods to Animal Experiments (ZEBET), Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany

    Andrea E. M. Seiler, Roland Buesen, Anke Visan & Horst Spielmann

Authors
  1. Andrea E. M. Seiler
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  2. Roland Buesen
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  3. Anke Visan
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  4. Horst Spielmann
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ottawa Health Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    Kursad Turksen

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© 2006 Humana Press Inc.

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Seiler, A.E.M., Buesen, R., Visan, A., Spielmann, H. (2006). Use of Murine Embryonic Stem Cells in Embryotoxicity Assays. In: Turksen, K. (eds) Embryonic Stem Cell Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, vol 329. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-037-5:371

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59745-037-5:371

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-498-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59745-037-9

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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