Morphological observation of embryonic stem cell-derived neurons after transplanted into A?-injured rat hippocampus / 第三军医大学学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To observe the morphology of embryonic stem cell-derived neurons after transplanted into A?-injured rat hippocampus. Methods Neural precursor cells (NPCs) were generated from mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) expressing EGFP with modified serum-free methods and then transplanted into the hippocampus of A?1-40-injuried rats. The morphology, neurotransmitter phenotypes and receptors of EGFP-positive donor cells were observed with immunofluorescene methods. Results The engrafted NPCs survived and differentiated into glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons and expressed both glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmitter receptors. Synaptophysin-positive dots were found surrounding somata and dendrites of transplanted neurons, suggesting the presence of presynaptic terminals adjacent to their membranes. Conclusion NPCs derived from ESCs can differentiate into excitatory and inhibitory neurons after grafted into Alzheimer's disease model rats, and maybe form synapse with the host neurons.