title: [Differentiation of rat bone marrow stromal cells into neuron like cells].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the differentiation of the rat bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into neuron like cells which express glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD) and choline acetyltransferase (ChAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  BMSCs of rats were flushed out with DMEM from femurs marrow and separated, and then planted in plastic flask. After being expanded and purified, the BMSCs were differentiated into neuron-like cells. Neurofilament (NF-200), microassociate protein-2 (MAP-2), neuron-specific nuclear protein (NeuN), nestin, gial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), GAD and ChAT were detected by immunohisitochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The induced BMSCs exhibited neuronal morphological characteristics, and the expressions of NF-200, MAP-2, NeuN and nestin were positive, but the expression of GFAP was negative. About (3 +/- 0.8)% of the induced BMSCs expressed GAD, and (5 +/- 0.3)% expressed ChAT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BMSCs can differentiate into neuron like cells, and express GAD and ChAT partially.
authors.affiliation: Department of Human Anatomy and Neurobiology, Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
authors.forename: Chang-Qi
authors.initials: CQ
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xiao-Qiong
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: D002795:Choline O-Acetyltransferase; D005968:Glutamate Decarboxylase