ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the inhibitive effect of exogenous nitric oxide (NO) on the proliferation of mouse neural progenitor cells (NPCs). METHODS: NPCs were cultured in medium containing EGF, and SNP was added as a donor of NO in vitro. The concentration of NO was measured by the Griess assay; The amount of living cells was measured by MTT assay. The NPCs were induced to differentiate in medium supplemented with serum. RESULT: The NO(-)2 concentrations in the supernatants of the experimental groups 1, 2, and 3 were 64.701 +/- 0.606, 82.659 +/- 0.394 and 93.648 +/- 0.394 micro mol/L respectively, 3.099 +/- 0.420 micro mol/L in th control group. After culture with SNP for 24 hours, MTT assay showed the A values of 0.546 +/- 0.016, 0.484 +/- 0.007, and 0.357 +/- 0.007 in the experimental groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively, 0.642 +/- 0.021 in th control group (all P < 0.01). After further culture in the medium without SNP for 24 hours, MTT assay showed the A values of 1.243 +/- 0.036, 1.064 +/- 0.097, and 0.834 +/- 0.031 in the experimental groups 1, 2, and 3 respectively, 1.581 +/- 0.072 in the control group (all P < 0.01). The differences between the A values of the supernatants in the same wells filled with the medium with and without SNP were all significant (P < 0.01). In the medium with serum the NPCs still proliferated actively and differentiated into neuron and glial cell after SNP was removed. CONCLUSION: Exogenous nitric oxide inhibits the proliferation of mice NPC in vitro.
