Imaging the structure of mouse embryonic stem cells

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/d10009206

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have the capacity to form any tissue type in the body. They are isolated and grown from blastocyst stage embryos on a feeder layer of cells and are maintained through the use of appropriate growth media. Selective culture conditions may be applied in order to direct the growth of particular types of cells. We are studying the structure of ES cells through the use of the Keck 3D Fusion Microscope (3DFM) and live cell imaging techniques. We have been labeling ES cells with organelle-specific fluorescent dyes in order to visualize the subcellular localization of specific organelles. We are focusing on correlating mitochondrial distribution and activity with ES cell growth and differentiation.