Primary culture of choroid plexuses from neonate rats containing progenitor cells capable of differentiation.

Background: The choroid plexuses, which could secrete a number of neurotrophins, have recently been used in transplantation in central nervous system diseases.

Aims: To study the mechanism of nerve regeneration in the central nervous system by grafting choroid plexus tissues.

Study Design: Animal experimentation.

Methods: The choroid plexuses from the lateral ventricles of neonatal rats were cultured in adherent culture, and immunocytochemical methods were used to analyse the progenitor cells on days 2, 6, and 10 after seeding.

Results: Expression of both nestin and glial fibrillary acidic protein was observed in small cell aggregates on day 2 in primary culture. Most of the nestin-positive cells on day 6 were immunoreactive to glial fibrillary acidic protein antibody. No cells expressing nestin or glial fibrillary acidic protein were seen on day 10.

Conclusion: These experimental results indicate that the choroid plexus contains a specific cell population - progenitor cells. Under in vitro experimental conditions, the progenitor cells differentiated into choroid plexus epithelial cells but did not form neurons or astrocytes.