Isolation, Culture And Identification Of Rat Spinal Neural Stem Cells

Objective To isolate, cultivate and identify the neural stem cells of rat spine in vitro for the further related research. Methods Spine cord of neonatal rats (1-3d) were obtained and mechanically dissociated into single cell suspension. Neural stem cells and their progeny cells were identified by immunofluorescence technique after sertma-free cultivation and fetal bovine sertma-induced proliferation. Results The cells isolated from spine cord of neonatal rats possessed the ability of proliferation and self-renew. Nestin positive cells could be found in the cell clone sphere. Cells induced to differentiate could express antigen of GFAP. Conclusion The isolated and cultured cells can express specific marker nestin of neural stem cells,and have strong capability of proliferation and pluripotent differentiation. It is suggested that neural stem cells exist in neonatal rat spine and can be used for further experimental studies.