Differentiation potential of neural stem cells derived from fetal sheep

Neural stem cells (NSCs) are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into many cell types in vitro. In this study, we isolated and established an NSC line from fetal Ovis aries. Based on the results of immunofluorescence staining, NSCs expressed Nestin, Pax6 and MAP2. Moreover, a reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay was used to biologically characterize the cell line. NSCs were induced to differentiate into neurogenic cells in vitro. They expressed MAP2, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and myelin basic protein (MBP). In this study, we successfully isolated and cultivated NSCs from the hippocampal tissue of fetal sheep. NSCs not only displayed a self-renewal capacity but also had the potential to differentiate into neurons and glial cells. This study provided valuable experimental data for NSC transplant research.