Rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neuron-like cells induced by berberine in vitro / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

AIM: To investigate whether berberine can ind uce rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into neuron -like cells in vitro. METHODS: MSCs were separated from young rat femurs marrow and expanded in culture medium. MSCs were induced to di fferentiate by berberine. The morphological changes of MSCs were evaluated by li g ht microscope.Neuron-spcific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Induced by be rberine for 8 hours,MSCs exhibited neurotype . The expression of NSE and NF in the neuron-like cells was positive, but the glial astrocyte marker GFAP didn't express. CONCLUSION: Berberine may induce adult rat MSCs to differe ntiate into neuron-like cells in vitro.