P19

Mouse teratocarcinoma. The P19 cell line was derived from an embryonal carcinoma induced in a C3H/He strain mouse. The cells can be cloned at high efficiency in medium containing 0.1MM beta-mercaptoethanol. The pluripotent P19 cells can be induced to differentiate into neuronal and glial cells in the presence of retinoic acid. Aggregates of P19 cells differentiate into cardiac and skeletal muscle in the presence of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). In the presence of both retinoic acid and DMSO cells develop as if exposed to retinoic acid only.