Mononuclear phagocyte progenitor cells derived from femoral and tibial bone marrow are propagated in the presence of M-CSF. This macrophage growth factor is secreted by L929 cells and is used in the form of L929 cell conditioned medium. The progenitor cells proliferate and differentiate through monoblast, promonocyte and monocyte stages before maturing to macrophages. At this time the cells become firmly adherent to the culture vessel. - [Read Isolation and Culture of Mouse Bone Marrow-Derived Macrophages Protocol]
In vitro differentiation of ES cells occurs when the cells are allowed to aggregate in suspension culture in the absence of mouse embryonic fibroblast (MEF) feeders and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). Hanging drops provide a uniform aggregate size, which is then expanded by continued growth in suspension culture. The embryoid bodies are then plated and allowed to differentiate further in culture. - [Read Differentiation of Embryonic Stem (ES) Cells Using the Hanging Drop Method]
Counterstains are used to help differentiate the various cell types of subcellular structures seen in cell staining. They are essential for tissue sections, allowing the identification of the cell types, but also may be helpful in other staining reactions. - [Read Counterstains Protocol]
Germ layers are multipotent tissues that have the ability to differentiate into various tissue types. Isolation and manipulation of germ layers is important for examining differentiation. This protocol describes a method for separating postimplantation germ layers. - [Read Separating Postimplantation Germ Layers Protocol]
This protocol a protocol on how to generate transfected embryonic stem (ES) cell clones. The previous protocol in this series is the Protocol for Electroporation of ES cells. The next protocol in the series is the Protocol on Disaggregation, Expansion, and Freezing of Transfected ES Clones.