Parthenogenic activation of human oocytes for the production of human embryonic stem cells

摘要

Methods of producing human stem cells are disclosed for parthenogenetically activating human oocytes by manipulation of 02 tension, including manipulation of Ca2+ under high 02 tension and contacting oocytes with serine threonine kinase inhibitors under low 02 tension, 5 isolating inner cell masses (ICMs) from the activated oocytes, and culturing the cells of the isolated ICMs under high 02 tension. Moreover, methods are described for the production of stems cells from activated oocytes in the absence of non-human animal products, including the use of human feeder cells/products for culturing ICM/stem cells. Stem cells produced by the disclosed methods are also described.