title: Ultrastructure and electrophysiology of astrocytes differentiated from adult adipose-derived stromal cells.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Adipose-derived stromal cell (ADSC) differentiation into neural cells in vitro is becoming widely studied. However, there are few reports on astrocytes following differentiation, and particularly on maturation and electrophysiology. In this study, we used various methods to determine ADSC-derived astrocyte maturity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Chemical induction with isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) was used to differentiate adult ADSCs into astrocytes followed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining to observe morphology and transmission electron microscopy for cellular ultrastructure assessment. Immunofluorescence was used to detect expression of neural stem cell marker nestin as well as glial markers glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and S-100. In addition, we measured membrane potentials in bis-(1,3-dibarbituric acid) trimethine oxanol-labeled ADSCs and astrocytes by stimulation with a high potassium solution under an inverted fluorescence microscope. Finally, cell cycle distribution was detected by flow cytometry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Typical astrocyte morphology was shown by HE staining after 48-hour differentiation. Glial fibril was observed with transmission electron microscopy. GFAP and S-100 were not expressed in the control group, but were expressed within 24-hour differentiation and reached a maximum at day 14 with no change up to day 28. Nestin was weakly expressed in control cells and also reached a maximum at day 14 with the percentage of positive cells constant until day 21 followed by a decrease. Differentiated cell membrane potentials after stimulation with potassium were slightly increased, and then gradually declined over time. There was no significant membrane potential change in the control group. Flow cytometry showed that the percentage of cells in G0/G1 phase was 93% and only 5% in S phase.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ADSCs were differentiated into mature astrocytes with typical characteristics including morphology, ultrastructure, marker protein expression, mature potassium channels and mitotic capacity.
authors: Department of Neurology, Kailuan General Hospital, Hebei United University, Tangshan, Hebei 063000, China.
authors: Ya
authors: Y
authors: Ou
authors: Xiao-dong
authors: XD
authors: Yuan
authors: Ya-nan
authors: YN
authors: Cai
authors: Yan-hui
authors: YH
authors: Lu
mesh_terms: D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D000328:Adult; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000494:pharmacology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004594:Electrophysiology / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D009418:S100 Proteins; D015056:1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine