[Effect of serum on the differentiation of neural stem cells].

Objective: To investigate the effect of serum on the differentiation of neural stem cells. Methods: The neural stem cells were isolated from the embryonic hippocampus tissues of Sprague Dawley rats at 14 day of pregnancy. After culturing and passaging, the 3rd generation cells were identified by immunocytochemical staining. Then, the cells were divided into 3 groups according to the concentrations of fetal bovine serum (FBS) used in the differentiation cell culture medium: 5% (group A), 1% (group B), 0 (group C), respectively. The other components of the culture media in 3 groups were the same. Cell viability was determined by using the Live/Dead cell staining at 8 days; the expressions of glial cell marker [glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)] and neuronal marker (β-Ⅲ Tubulin) were determined and analyzed by immunocytochemical staining and real-time fluorescent PCR at 4 and 8 days of culture. Results: <0.05). Conclusion: Serum can promote the differentiation of neural stem cells into glial cells. At the same time, it inhibits the differentiation of neural stem cells into neurons, the lower the serum concentration, the smaller the effect.