Rat Embryonic Stem Cell Derivation and Propagation

Embryonic stem (ES) cells have been routinely used to create loss-of-function mutations or gene replacement by homologous recombination in mice, providing an invaluable tool to address fundamental biological questions. Although mouse ES cells have been available for the past 29 years, authentic rat ES cells have only recently been established. The efficient derivation of multiple rat ES cell lines by independent investigators will accelerate the development of novel laboratory tools for biomedical research. Here we provide detailed protocols for the derivation and propagation of rat ES cells and for the production of rat chimeras using rat ES cells. The availability of rat ES cells provides the opportunity to adapt the technology developed in the mouse to the rat.