Differentiation of human ES cell-derived neural progenitors to neuronal cells with regional specific identity by co-culturing of notochord and somite.

Limitations to the in vivo study of human nervous system development make it necessary to design an in vitro model to evaluate the in vivo effects of surrounding tissues on neurogenesis and regional identity of the human neural plate. Rostral neural progenitors (NPs) were initially generated from adherent human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in a defined condition and characterized. Then, to find the role of somites (S) and notochords (N) in rostro-caudal (RC) and dorso-ventral (DV) patterning of neuronal cells, NPs were co-cultured with microencapsulated chicken S or N in alginate beads.

Transplantation of undifferentiated and induced human exfoliated deciduous teeth-derived stem cells promote functional recovery of rat spinal cord contusion injury model.

Regarding both the neural crest origin and neuronal potential of stem cells from human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED), here, we assessed their potential in addition to neural induced SHED (iSHED) for functional recovery when transplanted in a rat model for acute contused spinal cord injury (SCI). Following transplantation, a significant functional recovery was observed in both groups relative to the vehicle and control groups as determined by the open field locomotor functional test. We also observed that animals that received iSHED were in a better state as compared with the SHED group.

Flow Cytometry: A Novel Approach for Indirect Assessment of Protamine Deficiency by CMA3 Staining, Taking into Account the Presence of M540 or Apoptotic Bodies.

Background: Chromomycin A3 (CMA3) staining, either by the slide method or fluorescence microscopy, is widely used for indirect assessment of protamine deficiency in a semen sample. Flow cytometry is the most suitable tool to improve assessment accuracy, both in terms of statistical analysis and for prevention of observer variation. This study provides a simple procedure to account for merocyanine 540 (M540) or apoptotic bodies, which result in underestimation of the percentage of CMA3 positivity, by using propidium iodide (PI) staining.

Evaluation of Fas positive sperm and complement mediated lysis in subfertile individuals.

Purpose: Evaluation of Fas receptor on surface of sperm, as an apoptotic marker, using flow cytometry and confirming the results using an antibody-antigen complex through the classic complement pathway.

Materials And Methods: Semen samples were obtained from 10 fertile and 73 infertile individuals with diagnoses of male factor infertility. Expressions of Fas receptor and phosphatidyl serine on sperm were assessed by flow cytometry.

Novel method to obtain highly enriched cultures of adult rat Schwann cells.

Schwann cells (SCs) can be used to repair both the peripheral and central nervous systems. Therefore, establishment of a procedure to obtain activated, highly proliferative SCs, in an appropriate time for clinical applications, is a prerequisite. Purification is complicated by contamination with fibroblasts which often become the predominant cell type in an in vitro SC culture.