Abstract: Objective To investigate the potential of bone marrow stromal cells (bMSCs) to migrate and differentiate into the neural cells in vivo. Methods bMSCs were isolated by a density gradient (lymphocytes separation) from rats' limbs. After culturing for 8 to 10 days in primary culture, the bMSCs were transduced by retrovirus supernatants of EGFP from PT67 cells. The transduced bMSCs were then selected by G418. After being selected for 7 to 10 days, bMSCs could stably express EGFP. Then these bMSCs marked by EGFP were transplanted into the striatum of injured rats by tail veins or lateral ventricle. Results bMSCs were observed in the brain and capable of the morphology of neural cells and expressing some neural antigens. Conclusion Our findings suggest the migration and neural differentiation potential of bone mensenchymal stem cells and the potential use of bMSCs for a cell therapy in CNS diseases.

Key words: green fluorescent protein, bone mesenchymal stem cells, migration, differentiation