Cardiac differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells using Apelin

A 3 steps protocol for enhanced differentiation of cardiac cells from mouse embryonic stem cells (mEMCs), upon exposure to a combination of Apelin and mesodermal differentiation factors (BMP-4, activin-A and bFGF). After 10 days of Apelin induction, more than 90% of the embryoid bodies contain beating cells. This is a much higher rate of cardiac induction, when compared to spontaneous differentiation.