Abstract: To establish the protocol of expansion and identification of multipotent stem cells from embryonic rodents central nervous system. Isolated cells from hippocampus and subventricular zone of E18 d rat were cultured in the presence of EGF and bFGF, which showed the self-renewing capability and differentiated to neurons and glial cells after withdrawing GFs. Immunocytochemical staining was used to identify stem cells and their progeny. Under appropriate conditions the neural stem cells not only undergo self-expansion and proliferation but also differentiate into cells, which exhibit characteristics of neuronal and astrocytic phenotypes. The present study showed the presence of multipotent stem cells in rodent hippocampus and subventricular zone of embryonic rats, but the role of them in neurogenesis or regeneration after injury remained to be investigated.

Key words: neural stem cell, growth factor, differentiation