PTF1a Activity in Enriched Posterior Foregut Endoderm, but Not Definitive Endoderm, Leads to Enhanced Pancreatic Differentiation in an In Vitro Mouse ESC-Based Model

Figure 7

Cultures that were in suspension during either DE or PG stage when induced with PTF1a showed enhanced differentiation to pancreatic cell types. Confocal Z-stacks images at low magnification shown along with DAPI to demonstrate the extent of differentiation between conditions. Susp-DE Dox and Susp-PG Dox cultures had large numbers of Amy⁺ and Horm⁺ cells compared to No Dox cultures and attachment cultures (data not shown). Susp-DE Dox cultures had more Amy⁺ and Horm⁺ cells than Susp-PG Dox cultures. High magnification insets are shown to indicate cytoplasmic staining of hormones and amylase. Scale bars, 50 μm.