**1. Introduction**

Mesenchymal stem cells are stromal cells that can be differentiated into bone, cartilage, and fat cells [1]. These stem cells can be found in various tissues, including bone marrow and fat [2]. The ability to form cellular aggregations has been utilized in a three-dimensional model [3]. These three-dimensional structures using stem cells were reported to maintain cell survival and function and were applied for tissue engineering purposes [4]. Spheroid culture has recently been of interest, especially for regeneration purposes [5]. In detail, spheroid culture produces an increased secretion of cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor and granulocyte

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2018 The Author(s). Licensee IntechOpen. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

colony stimulating factor, when compared with that from two-dimensional cultures [6]. The aim of this review was to describe the two- and three-dimensional cultures, and the morphological comparison will be performed between two-dimensional culture and spheroid culture.

**Figure 2** shows morphology of the stem cells cultured in adipogenic media (STEMPRO® Adipogenesis Differentiation Kit, Gibco, Grand Island, NY, USA). The cells were supplied with adipogenic induction medium and adipogenic maintenance medium alternately. The cells' morphology was viewed under an inverted microscope (Leica DM IRM). **Figure 3** shows morphology of the stem cells cultured in adipogenic media for a longer period of

Morphological Comparison of Stem Cells Using Two-Dimensional Culture and Spheroid Culture

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**Figure 2.** Morphology of the stem cells cultured in adipogenic media on Day 5. (a) The morphology of the cells at low

**Figure 3.** Morphology of the stem cells cultured in adipogenic media on Day 13. (a) The morphology of the cells at low magnification (original magnification 100×), (b) higher magnification shows that cells have a ghost-like feature (original

magnification 100×) and (c) more distinct feature of abiogenesis is shown (original magnification 200×).

magnification (original magnification 100×) and (b) higher magnification (original magnification 200×).

13 days.
