Biological effect of velvet antler polypeptides on neural stem cells from embryonic rat brain

• Published in: Chinese medical journal Vol. 118; no. 1; pp. 38 - 42
• Main Authors: Lu, Lai-jin, Chen, Lei, Meng, Xiao-ting, Yang, Fan, Zhang, Zhi-xin, Chen, Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: China Department of Hand Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China%Department of Histology and Embryology, Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China%Department of Pediatric Surgery, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China 05-01-2005
• Subjects: Animals; Antlers - chemistry; Brain - embryology; Cell Differentiation; Cells, Cultured; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein - analysis; Immunohistochemistry; Nerve Growth Factors - pharmacology; Neurons - cytology; Peptides - pharmacology; Rats; Rats, Wistar; Stem Cells - cytology; Stem Cells - drug effects; 生物学作用; 神经元; 神经干细胞; 绒状角多肽; neuron; neural stem cell; differentiation; velvet antler polypeptides
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641

Background Velvet antler polypeptides (VAPs), which are derived from the antler velvets, have been reported to maintain survival and promote growth and differentiation of neural cells and, especially the development of neural tissues. This study was designed to explore the influence of VAPs on neural stem cells in vitro derived from embryonic rat brain. Methods Neural stem cells derived from E12-14 rat brain were isolated, cultured, and expanded for 7 days until neural stem cell aggregations and neurospheres were generated. The neurospheres were cultured under the condition of different concentration of VAPs followed by immunocytochemistry to detect the differentiation of neural stem cells. Results VAPs could remarkablely promote differentiation of neural stem cells and most neural stem cells were induced to differentiate towards the direction of neurons under certain concentration of VAPs. Conclusion Neural stem cells can be successfully induced into neurons by VAPs in vitro, which could provide a basis for regeneration of the nervous system.