Adult cerebrospinal fluid does not support neurogenesis from fetal rat neural stem cells

The purpose was to study the effect of human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) on differentiation of rat neural stem cells (NSCs), and thus explore the feasibility of transplanting stem cells via lumbar puncture clinically. Rat NSCs derived from fetal brain were divided into two groups, and cultured in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10 % FBS and human CSF, respectively. Cellular growth was observed with an inverted microscope, and immunostaining was used to analyze differentiation of NSCs in both groups. Cells of fetal brain showed shapes of spindle or star with minor sprouts at fifth day post-culture, and stained with nestin. NSCs in the control group differentiated into neurons, with positive staining to NSE, when cultured further in DMEM/F12 supplemented with 10 % FBS. While NSCs in the experiment group, cultured in CSF, differentiated into astroglia on eighth day, with positive immunostaining to GFAP. The new neurons dissolved rapidly when they were cultured in CSF. Human CSF cannot promote NSCs to differentiation toward neuron, nor support newborn neurons survival. It seems an inappropriate approach to transplant stem cells through CSF.