Clonal Populations of Amniotic Cells by Dilution and Direct Plating: Evidence for Hidden Diversity

Figure 3

Osteogenic differentiation with companion control populations. Populations of BMMSCp5, PB4A2p19, PB1C4p11, and PB3B5p14 cells were expanded in growth media and then maintained in osteogenic media for 3 to 4 weeks. Robust deposition of calcium, which stains with alizarin red, was generated in BMMSCs and PB4A2 cell populations, but not in PB1C4 or PB3B5 cell populations. The corresponding populations in control media without differentiation supplements are shown in the column on the right. Note the cross-hatched appearance of overly confluent populations of BMMSCp5, PB4A2p19, and PB1C4p11 cells while PB3B5p14 cell populations that apparently ceased proliferation near confluence. Magnification is identical in all panels.