Effect of dexmedetomidine on proliferation and differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem cells in vitro / 实用医学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the effect of dexmedetomidine (DEX) on proliferation and differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem cells in vitro. Methods Embryonic neuraI stem cells of fetal SD rats were separated from rats with gestational age of 14-16 days , and underwent primary culture for nestin expression. Cells were divided into control group, low-dose DEX group, and high-dose DEX group, which were cultured with 0,1 and 10 ng/mL DEX respectively. Cell viability was detected by MTT assay;the proliferation rate was estimated by BrdU incorporation; the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in the proliferation phases was detected by western blot; the differentiation of neuronal cells,astrocytes,oligodendrocyte and neural stem cells were assessed by immunocytochemistry of cell specific markers. Results More than 95% of the embryonic neural stem cells in primary culture were Nestin-positive. Cell viability , BrdU-positive cells and phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in low-dose DEX group increased significantly (P 0.05). Conclusions The proliferation of neuraI stem cells can be promoted by low-dose DEX and depressed by high-dose DEX , as well as regulated by DEX of the phosphorylation of ERK1/2. DEX induces neural stem cells non-selective differentiation.