Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: The present study was designed to investigate the effects of chitosan/poly vinyl alcohol scaffold incorporated by NRBE (neonatal rat brain extract) on neuronal differentiation of P19 EC (embryonal carcinoma) stem cells.
Material and Methods: In order to induce neuronal phenotype, P19-derived embryonic carcinoma stem cells were cultured on a rat chitosan/poly (vinyl alcohol) scaffold with newborn rat brain extracts. To evaluate the survival potential, migration and differentiation of the three-dimensional culture cells, these cells were grafted to the developing central nervous system of the chick embryo. Finally, the transplanted cells were detected using specific staining and immunofluorescence methods.
Results: Cresyl-Violet specific staining confirmed the neuronal phenotype of the transplantation cells. Also, the expression of specific neural protein, synaptophysin, was shown using the immunofluorescence process.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that P19 embryonic carcinoma stem cells can be used as a source of pluripotent cells in transplantation studies in order to investigate cellular and molecular aspects of developmental and cellular differentiation.
 

Abstract Aim: In this study, the effect of newborn rat brain extract to induce neuronal differentiation in P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) stem cells was investigated.
Material and Methods: Newborn rat brain extract was collected in sterile condition and the concentration of its total protein was determined. Then, the amount of cell viability was determined after treatment with brain extract. In order to differentiation, the embryoid bodies resulted from cells suspension culture were exposed to culture medium containing 3% serum that supplemented by the extract, for 7-14 days. Specific staining and real-time PCR methods were applied to evaluate neural differentiation.
Results: Cresyl violet staining confirmed neuronal morphology of the differentiated cells. The gene expression of neural specific was confirmed by real–time PCR. Developing brain extract, which contains numerous neorotrophic factors, could induce expression of synaptophysin (presynaptic membrane protein) and nestin (intermediate filament of stem cells in the neural tube) genes. In addition, the expression of transcription factor Nanog, an important factor for pluripotency and self-renewal of stem cells, decreased under the influence of newborn rat brain extract.
Conclusion: The results of the present study indicated that newborn rat brain extract can induce neuronal phenotype as well as neuronal specific gene expression in P19 stem cells. This study suggests the potential use of combined newborn rat brain extract and stem cell therapy to improvement of deficits in neurodegenerative diseases.

Abstract Aim: The aim of this study was to use carbon nanotube incorporated electrospun chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol (CS/PVA/CNT) to induce neural differentiation of the stem cells for potential neural tissue engineering applications.
Material and Methods: P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) stem cells were cultured on the CS/PVA/CNT scaffold to induce neuronal differentiation. Cresyl violet staining was used to investigate neuronal phenotype and immunoflourescence technique was carried out to evaluate expression of β-tubulin, a neural specific marker.
Results: Cresyl violet staining confirmed the neuronal morphology of the differentiated cells. These cells were immunoreactive to neuron specific marker, β-tubulin.
Conclusion: the findings suggested the potential use of combined tissue engineering and stem cell therapy to improve deficits in neurodegenerative diseases.