Ectopic expression of OCT4B1 Decreases Fertility Rate and Changes Sperm Parameters in Transgenic Mice.

Background: The octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (OCT4) is known as an established important regulator of pluripotency, as well as a genetic "master switch" in the self-renewal of embryonic stem and germ cells. , one of the three spliced variants of human OCT4, plays crucial roles in the regulation of pluripotency and stemness.

Objectives: The present study developed a transgenic mouse model containing an -expressing construct under the transcriptional direction of mouse mammary tumor virus promoter (pMMTV) to evaluate the role of OCT4B1 in the function of male germ cells in terms of fertility potential.

Transplantation of retinoic acid treated murine embryonic stem cells & behavioural deficit in Parkinsonian rats.

Background & Objectives: Stem cell therapy has been considered as an ideal option for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs)-derived dopaminergic (DA) neurons may substitute the degenerated neurons in the brain. In this study we generated highly enriched cultures of neural progenitors from mESCs and grafted them into the striatum of Parkinsonian rats to evaluate their ability to improve impaired function.

Formation of embryoid bodies from mouse embryonic stem cells cultured on silicon-coated surfaces.

Embryoid bodies (EBs) are primitive embryonic structures derived from differentiating embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Many techniques have been used to obtain EBs. Improving the technique of EB formation can help in achieving better results in ESCs differentiation into neurons, myocardiocytes, haemopoeitic cells, and others.