THE BIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF NEURAL STEM CELLS ISOLATED FROM THE STRIATUM OF HUMAN EMBRYOS / 解剖学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the biological characteristics of neural stem cells from the striatum of human embryos. Methods Neural stem cells were isolated from the striatum of 16-20 weeks human embryos.These cells were cultured to proliferate and then differentiate without mitogens or inductive factors.At various time points the progeny of neural stem cells differentiation were analyzed.Using immunocytochemistry stainings,the biological characteristics of neural stem cells were examined. Results Neural stem cells in the striatum of 16-20 weeks human embryos proliferated rapidly in vitro within the first one month of culture at an average doubling time of 3-4 days.Upon mitogen withdrawal,the differentiation of neural stem cells to neurons exceeded 50%.After 8 weeks in culture,however,the proliferation speed of neural stem cells lowered significantly.The proportion of neurons induced by mitogen removal was under 20%.There were about 20% of cells within neurosphere continue to divide.Conclusion The proliferation and self-renewal ability of neural stem cells in the striatum of 16-20 weeks human embryo is robust.In vitro,the rate of proliferation went down with time,and the ability of differentiation to multiple neural cells varied.The different mitogen factors in media have different effects on neural stem cell.Within neurospheres,neural stem cells are not homogenous,as only a portion of cells can divide.