Myelin-associated glycoprotein inhibits the differentiation and neurite growth of neural stem cells

AIM: To observe the characterization in neural cells derived from the hippocampus of embryonic rats and to examine the effect of myelin-associated glycoprotein (MAG) on the proliferation, differentiation and neurite growth of neural stem cells (NSCs). METHODS: The hippocampus cells of embryonic rats were isolated and cultured in vitro. The expressions of nestin and doublecortin, the marks of NSCs, were observed by immunocytochemical method. The rate of proliferating cells was examined by BrdU immunocytochemistry. The average neuronal neurite length and the percentage of differentiated neurons were detected by immunocytochemistry staining. RESULTS: The hippocampus cells of 16 days old embryonic rats had the characteristics of NSCs. The percentage of differentiated neurons (β-tubulin Ⅲ-positive cells) was 18.17%±2.79% and the average neuronal neurite length was (136.27±33.66)μm, seven days after the differentiation initiated in vitro in control group. After NSCs were treated with MAG-Fc (200 μg/L), the percentage of differentiated neurons and the average neurite length were decreased, respectively, to 10.05%±3.42% (P<0.01) and (84.87±24.94)μm (P<0.01). The results from proliferation test indicated that the rate of BrdU incorporation did not changed after the treatment of MAG-Fc with different dosages (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: MAG-Fc inhibits the differentiation and neurite growth of the NSCs, but has no effect on the proliferation.