Objective: To investigate the in vitro multipotential differentiation of neural stem cells from adult rat corpus striatum.
Methods: The neural stem cells isolated from adult rat corpus striatum were cultured in serum-free medium to obtain cell suspension before monoclonal subculturing and differential induction. Immunocytochemical staining and reverse transcriptional PCR (RT-PCR) were performed to identify the properties of the differentiated cells.
Results: Numerous cell clusters were formed in the phase of monoclonal culture, and different types of cells were observed 3 d after induction with fetal bovine serum. The differentiated cells contained cells positive for nestin, neuron-specific enolase (NSE) positive cells, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) positive cells. RT-PCR identified expressions of the transcripts for neural cell-associated genes including brain factor-1, gamma-aminobutyric acid alpha-receptor gamma-subunit, tyrosine hydroxylase and tryptophan hydroxylase.
Conclusion: The cells separated from adult rat corpus striatum possess the ability of self-proliferation and multipotential differentiation, and are identified as the stem cells of the central nervous system.