Rat mesenchymal stem cells differentiate into neuron-like cells induced by berberine in vitro

AIM: To investigate whether berberine can induce rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into neuron -like cells in vitro. METHODS: MSCs were separated from young rat femurs marrow and expanded in culture medium. MSCs were induced to differentiate by berberine. The morphological changes of MSCs were evaluated by light microscope.Neuron-spcific enolase (NSE), neurofilament (NF), glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Induced by berberine for 8 hours,MSCs exhibited neurotype . The expression of NSE and NF in the neuron-like cells was positive, but the glial astrocyte marker GFAP didn't express. CONCLUSION: Berberine may induce adult rat MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells in vitro.