Alpha-foetoprotein

When plated onto untreated dished F9 cells proliferate rapidly and form clumps of necrotic spheres by 4-8 days. In the presence of 5x10-8M retinoic acid (supplied from a stock of 1 mg/ml in DMSO) proliferation and aggregation occurs but, by about 5 days, embryoid bodies are formed which remain stable for more than 25 days (Adamson and Grover, 1983). It is in the early stages that differentiated functions are first expressed and alpha foetoprotein can be detected in the outer cells of the embryoid bodies at 6-8 days depending on the initial seeding density. There is increased production of laminin at 2 days. 

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