The study on the cholinergic differentiation of fetal spinal cord stem cells

Objective To study the cultivation of fetal spinal cord stem cells(SCSCs) in vitro,and its specific differentiation induced by bone marrow stromal cells(BMSCs).Methods The neural stem cells from spinal cord of 13 d fetal rats were harvested and cultivated in a serum-free limited medium which contained EGF and bFGF,and then were induced by conditioned medium obtained from the cultured medium of BMSCs.The results were identified by cellular immunohistochemistry.Results Lots of neural stem cells could be obtained from the fetal spinal cord,and the neurospheres were formed through cultivation in limited medium.The SCSCs could be induced to differentiate into cholinergic neurons by the cultured medium of BMSCs.Conclusion The limited medium can increase the population of SCSCs and maintain its attributes in vitro for a prolonged period with a stable genetic background.SCSCs can be induced to differentiate into cholinergic neurons.