Culture and characterization of PDSCs using placental extract proteins. (A) Morphological features of the cultured PDSCs shown for various PEPs depending on incubation time from 5 days (5D) to 10 days (10D). Serum replacement (SR, e) was used as negative control to FBS (a, a‐1). Morphology of PDSCs grown in media containing PEP‐A (b, b‐1) and PEP‐B (c, c‐1) appeared healthier than those in conventional medium with FBS. PDSCs in media containing PEP‐C (d, d‐1) induced cell death; otherwise, PDSCs showed no growth in 20% SR (e). (×100 original magnification); (B) Growth rate of PDSCs for culture. Growth rates of PDSCs using media containing PEP‐A and PEP‐B were lower compared to those in conventional medium containing FBS and followed general growth curve of cells; (C) Expression of genes indicating stemness of PDSCs cultured by PEPs. Gene expression patterns of PDSCs cultured with PEP‐A were similar to those of PDSCs cultured with FBS. M: marker.