Effects of sodium nitroprusside on proliferation and differentiation of spinal neural stem cells

    LIU Yanª²Wu, LUO Zhuoª²Jing, CAO Yanª²Lin, YE Zhengª²Xu

    Institute of Orthopeadics of Chinese PLA, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¡¯an 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstract¡¿ AIM: To investigate effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the proliferation and the differentiation of spinal neural stem cells into neural cells in vitro. METHODS: Spinal neural stem cells were cultured on the media without serum and with different concentration of SNP. The quantitative and morphological changes of the cells and the expression of MAP2, GFAP and MAG were observed and photomicrographed by phase contrast microscope. RESULTS: The number of living cells in the experiment groups was fewer than that in the control group [ (3.3¡À0.8)¡Á105/mL, (2.2¡À0.6)¡Á105/mL and (1.4¡À0.3)¡Á105/mL, vs (5.1¡À1.3)¡Á105/mL, P<0.05]. The majority of the spinal neural stem cells protruded with several long processes and expressed high level of MAP2, while the minority of the spinal neural stem cells protruded with several short processes which were GFAP positive. The remaining small part protruded with several crassitude processes which were MAG positive. The ratio of neurons was different in control and experimental groups [(30.2¡À3.8)% vs (50.9¡À2.8)%, (58.6¡À3.3)% and (66.7¡À4.1)%, P<0.01]. CONCLUSION: Sodium nitroprusside can inhibit the proliferation and promotes the differentiation of spinal neural stem cells into neuronal but not glial cells in vitro in a concentrationª²dependent manner. ......