In Vitro Differentiation of CCE Embryonic Stem Cells Into Neural Cells

Unlimited self renewal potential of embryonic stem cells in differentiation to different types of cells Provides cells which can be an attractive doner source for developmental studies, cell therapy and gene therapy sterategies. In this research ES cells were differentiated into neuron-like cells. At first, dispersed cells from growing cultures were plated into siliconized petri dishes. Under these conditions the cells spontaneously produced embryoid bodies. Embryoid bodies were cultured in a medium containing retinoic acid for four days and anather four days in a medium without retinoic acid. Then embryoid bodies were plated into tissue culture grade Petri dishes and evaluated morphologicaly. Also cresyl violet staining and immunocytochemical evaluation using nestin and synaptophysin antibodies were performed to verify the phenotype of the neural cells. Our results showed after transfering of embryoid bodies into tissue culture dishes neural like cells were appeared at the margin of embryoid bodies. Gradually these cells increase in namber and grow on the surface. The results of cresyl violet staining and immunocytochemical evaluations confirmed that differentiated cells were of neural origin. Therefore, It can be concluded when ever embryoid bodies are prepared from CCE embryonic stem cells using siliconized petri dishes, they can be differentiated into neural cells, and CCE embryonic stem cells is a suitable cell line for in vitro studies on embryonic development.