Effect of ¦Âª²mercaptoethanol on proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells from embryonic rats

    DING Tan, LUO Zhuoª²Jing, HU Huiª²Min

    Institute of Orthopedics, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi¬ðan 710033, China

    ¡¾Abstraet¡¿ AIM: To explore the effects of different concentrations of ¦Âª²Mercaptoethanol (BME) in DFI2 containing 10 mL/L fetal cow serum (FCS) on the proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells from rat embryonic spinal cord. METHODS: We isolated neural stem cells (NSCs) from the spinal cord and purified them through 2ª²3 generations. We then used different concentrations of BME containing 10 mL/L FCS to induce NSCs in vitro, observed the cells in three phases, identified the differentiation using immunocytochemistry by GFAP and NSE 24 h later, and analyzed the results. RESULTS: Proliferation was observed in NSCs induced either by BME (0.5 mmol/L or l mmol/L) and FCS or only by FCS. The differentiation rate of NSCs to neurons induced by BME (0.5 mmol/L) was 49% and 10% by FCS, while the differentiation rate of NSCs induced by BME (l mmol/L) significantly increased to 58%. The differentiation rate of astrocytes induced by BME (0.5 mmol/L or l mmol/L) and FCS or only by FCS was 46%, 35% and 83%. CONCLUSION: BME has significant effect on inducing NSCs to neurons, but BME also has some cell toxicity. The effect of BME combined with FCS is much better than that of using only BME or FCS. ......