Image: Courtesy of Gwenn-AEL Dnaet ©2002 National Academy of Sciences
 STEM CELL XENOGRAFT: Identification of human hepatocytes in livers from immune-deficient mice transplanted with human adult hematopoietic stem cells. Photomicrographs of NOD/SCID mouse liver sections from mice transplanted with purified human Lin-CD38-CD34-C1qRp+ cells isolated from umbilical cord blood, harvested 8-10 weeks post-transplant. Tissue sections were stained for HSA (hepatocyte-specific antigen) or c-met (hepatocyte growth factor receptor). (a, g) Human liver section positive controls. (b, h) noninjected NOD/SCID mouse liver negative controls.

Stem cells make for hot news. Debates over the ethics of using human embryonic stem cells in research have topped headlines, and current research into the plasticity of adult stem cells has raised hopes that these cells could be a suitable replacement for their embryonic counterparts in a number of therapeutic applications. But often overlooked is the fact that stem cells are tough to grow. They are much less...

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