[In vitro culture and biological characteristics of cranial neural crest stem cell].
OBJECTIVE
According to development biology, cranial neural crest stem cell (CNCSC) can differentiate into precursor cells of tooth, jaw and peripheral nerve system, but in vitro study is less reported. In the present study, CNCSC were dissociated and cultured in vitro, and the biological characteristics of CNCSC was investigated.


METHODS
Cranial neural tubes, dissected from mouse E9d, were explanted onto fibronectin-coated dishes. CNCSCs emigrated from the explanted neural tubes, cultured in a serum-free medium containing modified DMEM/F12. Biological characteristics of CNCSC were detected by morphology, nuclear labeled with BurdU and immunocytochemistry.


RESULTS
Fibroblast-like CNCSCs demonstrated the characteristics of stem cell, such as clonality, self-renewal and multipotentiality. The result of immunocytochemical stain showed that CNCSC expressed HNK-1 antigen.


CONCLUSIONS
CNCSC were cultured successfully, providing a experimental basis for study on tooth/jaw-like differentiation of CNCSC in vitro, especially providing a cell source for investigating tooth/jaw regeneration.
Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
Wei-dong
WD
Tian
Hong-bing
HB
Jiang
Lei
L
Liu
Wei
W
Tang
Xiao-dong
XD
Li
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D003391:Cranial Nerves / Q000166:cytology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology*