Inactivated Mouse and Human Fibroblasts

To date, the use of inactivated fibroblasts in the derivation and culture of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) remains the most widely used culture system despite the availability of other systems that are feeder-free. In general, the feeder-based systems tend to be less expensive than their feeder-free equivalents, and feeders have a proven ability to maintain PSCs stably in an undifferentiated state, so in most cases the cost-effective feeder system is the system of choice. This chapter looks at the morphology of mouse and human feeder cells in order make a subjective assessment of the quality of the feeders and their suitability to support the growth and expansion of PSCs (Figs. 3.1, 3.2, 3.3, 3.4, 3.5, 3.6, 3.7, 3.8 and 3.9).