The invention provides a method of producing human immature dental pulp stem cells (hIDPSCs) expressing CD44 and CD13 and lacking expression of CD146. The invention also provides compositions for use in the treatment of a neurological disease or condition selected from the group consisting of Parkinson's disease (PD), multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), stroke, autoimmune encephalomyelitis, diabetic neuropathy, glaucomatous neuropathy, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease (HD), autism, schizophrenia, stroke, ischemia, a motor disorder, and a convulsive disorder.

Disclosed is a method for extracting high-purity polydeoxyribonucleotide (PDRN) from salmon testes, including 1) separating semen and immature testicular regions from the testes of a salmonid fish, 2) gently grinding the immature testicular regions, followed by dilution with an artificial seminal plasma, 3) treating the dilution with a predetermined concentration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to induce artificial sexual maturation of the testicular cells to sperm, 4) centrifuging the testicular dilution after the passage of a predetermined time from the hCG treatment and collecting potentially motile sperm, and 5) extracting PDRN from the collected sperm. The method enables the production of raw materials for PDRN with a 100- to 200-fold higher purity from 20 mL (a maximum of 50 mL) of sperm (semen) collected at one time from a salmonid fish. In addition, the method enables the extraction of PDNR in high yield in a cost-effective and economically viable manner.

A growth medium for culturing mesenchymal stem cells. The medium comprises a serum, a fibroblast growth factor, and either an L-cysteine, a glutathione, or an N-acetyl cysteine. Optionally, the medium can comprise various quantities of an epidermal growth factor, a hydrocortisone, a calcium chloride, an insulin, a pituitary extract, a selenium, a stromal-derived factor, a sodium pyruvate, a transferrin, and serum-free medium.

The present application provides an in-vitro committed differentiation method for inducing human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into Leydig cells (LCs) by neural crest stem cells (NCSCs). The hiPS-derived LCs is verified by an animal model to have the capacity of regenerating senile or injured LCs, so that a new treatment for supplementing testosterone is provided for patients suffering from hypogonadism, particularly for patients suffering from late-onset hypogonadism (LOH).

Methods for ex vivo expansion of very small embryonic like stem cells in the absence of feeder cells are provided. In some embodiments the methods include providing a plurality of VSELs; and growing the VSELs in a culture medium that includes a histone deacetylase inhibitor, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and optionally transforming growth factor beta in an amount that is sufficient to overcome quiescence of the VSELs. Also provided are feeder cell-free cell cultures, ex vivo expanded VSELs, pharmaceutical compositions that include the disclosed ex vivo expanded VSELs, methods for overcoming quiescence in VSELs, methods for re-establishing imprinting in VSELs, method for treating injuries to tissues in subjects, methods for repopulating cell types in subjects, methods for bone marrow transplantation, methods for treating radiation exposure in subjects, and methods that relate to regenerative medicine.

The subject invention pertains to methods and devices for generating mature oocytes from immature oocytes and improving oocyte quality for improved success of assistant reproductive technology (ART). The methods include the use of tunneling nanotube-forming cells and oocytes, wherein the tunneling nanotube-forming cells transfer autologous genomic materials, biomolecules and cellular components to the oocytes. The devices of the invention include microfluidic device to improve the efficiency of the transfer of biomolecules and cellular components between tunneling nanotube-forming cells and oocytes.

A serum-free culture medium for in vitro maturation of bovine oocytes includes a Hepes-free M199 basal medium, fatty acid-free BSA, human menopausal gonadotrophin (HMG), 17β-estradiol, epidermal growth factor (EGF), L-cysteine, bFGF, Glutamax (100×), folic acid, cholic acid and CXCL12. A method of culturing bovine oocytes using such serum-free culture medium is provided.

The technology relates in part to epithelial cell spheroids and methods of producing epithelial cell spheroids.

A method of banking stem cells by harvesting stem cells from an individual and culturing the harvested stem cells to generate a P0 culture. The method includes storing a desired amount of P0 stem cells via cryopreservation and subculturing a portion of the P0 stem cells to generate a P1 culture. A desired amount of P1 stems cells can then be stored via cryopreservation and further generations can be stored as desired.

The present invention provides a novel oocyte maturation medium or/and embryo culture medium with a chemically defined supplement to produce matured oocytes at high efficiency. The inventive medium or supplement comprises three growth factors, namely, fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2), leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in a synergistic combination. Methods for oocyte and embryo culture are also provided.