Effect of Rat Schwann Cell Secretion on Proliferation and Differentiation of Human Neural Stem Cells

Objective:To investigate the effect of rat Schwann cell secretion on the proliferation and differentiation of human embryonic neural stem cells(NSCs).Methods:The samples were divided into three groups.In Group One,NSCs were cultured in DMED/F 12 in which Schwann cells had grown for one day.In Group Two,NSCs and Schwann cells were co-cultured.In Group Three,NSCs were cultured in DMEM/F12.The morphology of NSCs was checked and β-tubulin,GalC,hoechst 33343 and GFAP labellings were detected.Results:In Group One,all neural spheres were attached to the bottom and differentiated.The majority of them were β-tubulin positive while a few of cells were GFAP or GalC positive.In Group Two,neural Spheres remained undifferentiatied and their proliferation was inhibited in places where Schwann cells were robust.In places where there were few Schwann cells,NSCs performed in a similar manner as in Group One.In group Three,the cell growth state deteriorated day after day,On the 7th day,most NSCs died.Conclusion:The secretion of rat Schwann cells has a growth supportive and differentiation-inducing effect on human NSCs.