Characteristics of Embryonic Rat Neural Stem Cells Transplanted to Striatum of Adult Rats

Abstract: The survival， migration and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs) from embryonic rat after transplantation to striatum of adult rats were investigated. NSCs isolated from subventricular zone (SVZ) of E14 SD rats， were cultured with serum-free media and identified with nestin staining. After 4_5 passages， NSCs prelabeled by BrdU were transplanted to the striatum of adult rats. Recipient brains were examined at 2， 4， 6 and 8 weeks after transplantation. Immunocytochemistry and immunohistofluorescence techniques were employed to detect the localization and differentiation of the grafts in striatum. About 16% labeled cells were found after 8 weeks and they exhibited extensive migration from the injection site， especially rostral and caudal along the white matter tracts. Some of them reached the internal capsule. In striatum， the labeled cells differentiated into neurons and glias. A significant proportion of the cells developed into glial fibrillary acid protein (GFAP) positive cells which mainly located at the border of the graft， whereas neurofilament (NF) positive cells were observed in the core of the grafts. The results suggest that cultured embryonic NSCs can provide a potential source of cell for neuroreplacement therapy on neurodegenerative disorders such as PD， and cell migration should be considered.

CSTR: 32200.14.cjcb.2006.05.0019