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[Induced differentiation of neural stem cells from subependymal zone into retinal cells in vitro]
Hui-ping Yuan1, Jian Ge, Yong-heng Duan
1Department of Ophthalmology, The 2nd Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150086, China. yuanhp@yahoo.com
Objective:
To study the cultivation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSC) in vitro and observe the effects of retinal cell-conditioned medium on the differentiation of NSC.
Method:
Cells from subependymal zone of postnatal 0 - 3 days SD rat were isolated and cultured in vitro. Retinal cells of SD rat were cultured simultaneously. The supernatants (conditioned medium, SDR-CM) of cultured retinal cells were collected and used for the cultivation of the NSC from subependymal zone. Immunofluorescence method and anti-Thy1.1 antibodies were used to identify the cells derived from the NSC.
Results:
Cultured NSC grew well in the serum-free culture medium. Cultured subependymal cells in the SDR-CM could be differentiated to the retinal cells. Some cells were stained positively with anti-Thy1.1 antibodies.
Conclusion:
These results showed that cultured NSC could survive well in vitro. SDR-CM can induce the NSC to differentiate to the retinal cells. The present study was designed to simulate the microenvironment of the eyes and to induce the differentiation of the NSC. Our in vitro model system may provide theoretical basis for the intraocular transplantation of retinal neurons.