Isolation and Cultivation of Neural Stem Cells in neonatal Rats

Objective To study the isolation and cultiv ation of neural stem cells in neonatal rats. Methods Cell culture, indirect immunofluo rescence cytochemistry and gene transfection techniques were used. Results The neural stem cells isolated in newborn rats had the potential to form clones, express neuroepithelial stem cell protein(nestin) and differentiate into mature neurons and astrocytes. Moreover, green fluorescent protein vector could be efficiently transfected into this cell line. Conclusions Neural stems cells can only be characterized on a critical functional basis in terms of their undifferentiated features, capacity of self-renewal, proliferation and pluripotentiality, and can express ex vivo gene efficiently.