title: [Psoralen induces rat mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards male germ cells in vitro].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the hypothesis that psoralen induces rat mesenchymal stem cells (RMSCs) to differentiate towards male germ cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  RMSCs were induced by psoralen at the final concentration of 3.0 µg/ml, and the morphological changes of the cells were detected microscopically and the cell proliferation changes were measured by MTT assay. The expressions of 7 representative marker genes of male germ cells, namely Oct-4, Stra8, RVLG, SCP3, TNP2, Itgb1, and Itga6, were investigated in the induced cells by real-time quantitative PCR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RMSCs showed no obvious morphological changes after induction with 3.0 µg/ml psoralen for 72 h. Psoralen induction for 5 days did not significantly affect the proliferation of RMSCs; Psoralen induction for 72 h, however, significantly up-regulated the genes Oct-4, Stra8, SCP3, and Itgb1 (P<0.05) without affecting the expressions of the genes RVLG, TNP2, or Itga6 (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Psoralen may participate in the differentiation of RMSCs towards male germ cells.
authors.affiliation: Reproduction Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Western Medicine, Second Affiliated Clinical Medical School; Sichuan Family Planning Research Institute, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610041, China. E-mail: 1298421480@qq.com.
authors.forename: Qian
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yanli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: Limei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005363:Ficusin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005854:Germ Cells / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D059630:Mesenchymal Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D005363:Ficusin