Differentiation of chicken embryonic germ cells into neural stem cells in vitro

To explore the feasibility of inducing chicken embryonic germ cells into neural stem cells in vitro. Embryoid bodies (EB) induced by retinoic acid (RA), were selected in neural stem cell-defined medium for 7 days, and the resulting morphological changes were observed. The selected cells were stained immunocytochemically with anti-nestin antibodies, and their expansion and differentiation were analyzed. Large amounts of neurosphere-like colonies were derived from embryoid bodies in the selected medium on the 7th day, which could be passaged and differentiated, stained positive with nestin, and expressed nestin. Neural stem cells could be derived from embryoid bodies induced by RA in the selected medium, which may offer an alternative method of treatment for neuropathies such as glaucoma and retinal degeneration in the future [Acta Zoologica Sinica 54(5): 855– 860, 2008].