Huge Clusters of Embryonic Stem Cells in Human Embryos: A Morphologic Study

Background: Nothing is known about huge clusters (HC) of embryonic stem cells (ESC) in human fetal organs (HFO). Aim: To know the status of HC-ESC in HFO. Methods: Morphology and immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 32 HFO of 7-40 gestational weeks (GW). Results: HC-ESC were seen in many HFO including central nervous system, spinal cords, spine, soft tissue, bone, skin, thyroid, lung, liver, pancreas, gall bladder, extrahepatic bile duct, adrenal, kidney, bladder, foregut, midgut, hindgut, female and male genital organs, and neurons. HC-ESC's were composed of two populations depending on constituting cells. One were large cells with ample acidophilic cytoplasms with vesicular nuclei and nucleoli. The other were small cells with scant cytoplasm with hyperchromatic nuclei without nucleoli, resembling lymphocytes. The HC-ESC were frequently showed neuronal differentiation. HC-ESC were positive for NCAM, synaptophysin, NSE, chromogranin, PDGFRA, AFP, ErbB2, bcl-2, KIT, MET. They were negative for CD45, CD3, CD20, EMA, CEA, CA19-9, cytokeratin (CK) 7, CK8, CK18, CK19, MUC1, MUC2, MUC5AC, and MUC6. The mean Ki-67 labeling index (LI) was 13%+/- 7%. HC-ESC showed a little glycogen but lacked mucins. These HC-ESC were seen in 7-25 GW, and they were rarely seen in 26-40 GW. Conclusions: The morphology, IHC, and ontogeny of HC-ESC were described. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:825-831, 2014. (c) 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.