DERIVATION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF PLURIPOTENT CELL-LINES FROM PORCINE AND BOVINE BLASTOCYSTS

Pluripotent cell lines from the domestic pig and cow are described. The procine cells can be maintained indefinitely in an undifferentiated state when grown on mouse fibroblast feeder layers. They differentiate spontaneously on reaching high densities, or in suspension culture to form embryoid bodies. We are currently attempting to establish whether these cultures represent primary ectodermal lineages, which would be of particular relevance to developmental and transgenic studies. © 1990.