Survival and differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells following transplantation into substantia nigra in rats

Objective : To observe the survival and differentiation of embryonic neuroepithelial cells in substantia nigra after transplantation. Methods : Neuroepithelial cells were dissociated from neural tube of embryonic Wistar rats (E11d), and the expression of nestin was examined, then they were transplanted into the substantia nigra of homogenous rats. The hosts were anesthetized and transcardially perfused 7d and 14d after transplantation respectively. Coronal sections of the brain were cut with in cryostat microtome. Using immunocvtochemistry the survival of neuroepithelial cells transplant, expression of neuro-specific enolase (NSE) and tyrosine tiydroxylase(TH) were examined. Results: Most neuroepithelial cells were nestin-positive. By immunocytochemistry, a mass of NSE-positive cells and TH-positive cells could be detected in the core of graft region. Conclusion: Present findings demonstrate that embryonic neural stem cells dissociated from neural tube can survive and differentiate into dopamine neurons.