Differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem cells promoted by co-cultured Schwann cells / 中华医学杂志(英文版)

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the factors which induce differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Rat embryonic neural stem cells were co-cultured with newborn rat Schwann cells in serum-free medium. The phenotype and specific-markers including tubulin-beta, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and galactorcerebroside (GalC), were demonstrated by phase contrast microscopy and double immunofluorescence staining.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Overall, 80% +/- 5% of neural stem cells protruded several elongated processes and expressed tubulin-beta antigen at high levels, while 20 +/- 3% of them protruded several short processes and were GalC or GFAP positive.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The factors secreted by Schwann cells could induce rat embryonic neural stem cell to differentiate.</p>