Anke Visan

TL;DR: The improved EST holds promise as a new predictive screen for risk assessment with respect to developmental toxicity using stem cell technology and technological advances in the field of gene expression analysis.

TL;DR: This new molecular approach, subsequently referred to as molecular fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS)-EST, holds promise as a sensitive, more rapid and reproducible screen highly suited to predict developmental toxicity in vivo from in vitro data.

TL;DR: The embryonic stem cell test (EST) as mentioned in this paper uses beating cardiomyocytes in embryoid body outgrowths compared to cytotoxic effects on murine ES cells and differentiated 3T3 fibroblasts.

TL;DR: In a joint research project with German pharmaceutical companies, the embryonic stem cell test is improved by developing protocols that stimulate differentiation of ES cells into neural and endothelial cells, chondrocytes and osteoblasts, because some substances might have embryotoxic effects on specific cell-types other than cardiomyocytes.

TL;DR: The current study shows that D3 mESCs differentiate efficiently into neural cells involving a neurosphere-like state and that this system is suitable to detect adverse effects of neurodevelopmental toxicants.