The Differentiation of Neuronal Cells from Mouse Embryonic Stem Cells

Abstract

With new technologies emerging today, the importance of stem cells in the cell therapy of nervous system diseases is supported by recent studies. Therefore, the development of neuronal cell differentiation protocols from stem cells is of great importance. In our study, the differentiation of neuronal and neuroglial cells from mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell line and their analysis with neuronal cell markers are aimed. Mouse ES cells were differentiated to neurogenic series cells by adding N2 and bFGF to the culture medium on coated Fibronectin dishes. For the identification of differentiated cells, they were evaluated by light microscopy using immunhistochemistry techniques and by electron microscopy. Indirect immunohistochemical staining method was performed with SSEA-1 (mouse embriyonic stem cells marker), Nestin (neural precursor cells marker), βIII-Tubulin (neuronal cells marker), MAP-2 (neuronal cells marker), GFAP (astrocyte marker), and O4 (oligodendrocyte marker). After 1 week of differentiation of cells, immunoreactivities of SSEA-1 and Nestin were detected to be negative and moderate, respectively. After 2 weeks culture time, the differentiation was still continuing and especially positive immunoreactivities of β-III Tubulin and MAP-2 and weak immunoreactivities of O4 and GFAP were supported neuronal differentiation. In conclusion, our results suggest that neuronal cell derived from mouse ES cells were differentiated particularly to neuron using N2+bFGF+fibronectin culture condition. Therefore, these differentiated cells may be used as a treatment method in degenerative diseases of the nervous system.