RESUMEN
[Objective] To compare the biological characteristics of neuron-like cells from rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) induced by β-mercaptoethanol (BME) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) respectively. [Method] BME and bFGF were added to rat MSC respectively for 9 h and 5 days. The neuron-like cells from MSC with the neuron specific protein NF200 were identified using immunofluorescence. The gene expression of NF were analyzed using RT-PCR and the protein expression of NF200 were analyzed using Western blotting. [Results] MSC induced by BME appeared morphology change in an hour and the neurite can be seen at six hour. Some cell bodies became lighter and died. MSC induced by bFGF had neurite in the third day, and appeared network structure in the fifth day, then cells died in the seventh day. At the same time, The result of immunofluorescence showed the NF200 expression of neuon-like cells induced by two ways were beth positive, but MSC induced by bFGF were stronger than those induced by BME. The results of RT-PCR and western blotting were same as that of immunofluorescence. [Conclusion] Both bFGF and BME can induce rat MSC to neuron-like cells, but the neuon-like cells induced by bFGF were more like real neurons in morphology and expression of neuron specific protein and mRNA.