Figure 7

In vitro and in vivo differentiation potential of LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells (A) Schematic of experimental design. To induce differentiation, OCT4-inducible (iOCT4) ES cells were grown in the absence of LIF and with doxycycline to downregulate OCT4 expression on low-binding dishes or as a monolayer. (B) Embryoid body (EB) differentiation of control ES cells (ZHTc6) and LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells. (C) Teratomas generated from LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells injected into SCID-beige mice, which were treated with tetracycline (Tc) to downregulate OCT4 expression. (D) Teratomas generated from wild-type ES cells (R1) injected into SCID-beige mice. Tumors were harvested 4–6 weeks post injection and evaluated using standard H&E histological methods. Transmitted white-light microscopy of sectioned teratomas. Heterogeneous differentiation of LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells and control ES cells into endoderm (glandular structures), mesoderm (osteoblasts, adipocytes, muscle), and ectoderm (keratinized epidermal cells). (E,F) Differentiation of LIF-independent iOCT4 ES cells in the presence of doxycycline to downregulate OCT4 expression and (E) without or (F) with retinoic acid.