title: Biological effect of velvet antler polypeptides on neural stem cells from embryonic rat brain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Velvet antler polypeptides (VAPs), which are derived from the antler velvets, have been reported to maintain survival and promote growth and differentiation of neural cells and, especially the development of neural tissues. This study was designed to explore the influence of VAPs on neural stem cells in vitro derived from embryonic rat brain.
  
  
  METHODS
  Neural stem cells derived from E12-14 rat brain were isolated, cultured, and expanded for 7 days until neural stem cell aggregations and neurospheres were generated. The neurospheres were cultured under the condition of different concentration of VAPs followed by immunocytochemistry to detect the differentiation of neural stem cells.
  
  
  RESULTS
  VAPs could remarkably promote differentiation of neural stem cells and most neural stem cells were induced to differentiate towards the direction of neurons under certain concentration of VAPs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Neural stem cells can be successfully induced into neurons by VAPs in vitro, which could provide a basis for regeneration of the nervous system.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hand Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
authors.forename: Lai-jin
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiao-ting
authors.initials: XT
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Zhi-xin
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000999:Antlers / Q000737:chemistry*; D001921:Brain / Q000196:embryology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D010455:Peptides