Differentiation of rat embryonic neural stem cells promoted by co-cultured Schwann cells.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the factors which induce differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells.


METHODS
Rat embryonic neural stem cells were co-cultured with newborn rat Schwann cells in serum-free medium. The phenotype and specific-markers including tubulin-beta, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and galactorcerebroside (GalC), were demonstrated by phase contrast microscopy and double immunofluorescence staining.


RESULTS
Overall, 80% +/- 5% of neural stem cells protruded several elongated processes and expressed tubulin-beta antigen at high levels, while 20 +/- 3% of them protruded several short processes and were GalC or GFAP positive.


CONCLUSIONS
The factors secreted by Schwann cells could induce rat embryonic neural stem cell to differentiate.
Wan
Hong
H
Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing 100050, China. wanhong50@hotmail.com
An
Yihua
Y
Zhang
Zeshun
Z
Zhang
Yazhuo
Y
Wang
Zhongcheng
Z
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018920:Coculture Techniques; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000166:cytology*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D008858:Microscopy, Phase-Contrast; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000502:physiology; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010641:Phenotype; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012583:Schwann Cells / Q000502:physiology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*
D009414:Nerve Growth Factors