title: The ability to form cartilage of NPMSC and BMSC in SD rats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, we observed the difference in the ability of cartilage differentiation between nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSC) and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC).
  
  
  METHODS
  NPMSC and BMSC were isolated from SD rats. Their proliferation abilities were detected by CCK-8 methods, their multilineage differentiation abilities were observed using Alizarin red staining, oil red O staining and Alcian Blue staining methods. The expression levels of osteogenic, adipogenic, chondrogenic genes were detected with RT-PCR and Western-blotting methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no obvious difference in the proliferation ability between NPMSC and BMSC cells. NPMSC and BMSC cells expressed stem cell genes and the surface markers and showed osteogenic, adipogenic and chondrogenic multi-directional differentiation capability of cartilage under induction in vitro.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We confirmed that NPMSC with characteristics of stem cells can be isolated and cultured from nucleus pulposus tissues of intervertebral disc of SD rats, the chondrogenic ability of NPMSC and BMSC was similar under induction in vitro. This could provide a new seed cells for tissue engineering.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China ; First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China ; Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Da Yi Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030032, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Da Yi Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030032, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Da Yi Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030032, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Da Yi Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030032, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xiaoming
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, First Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics Surgery, Second Hospital, Shanxi Medical University Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi, China.
authors.forename: Chenhui
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xue
keywords: Nucleus pulposus mesenchymal stem cells (NPMSC); RT-PCR; Western blotting; bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSC); multi-directional differentiation capability; proliferation ability