Psoralen induces rat mesenchymal stem cell differentiation towards male germ cells in vitro

VernacularTitle:补骨脂素可能参与诱导大鼠间充质干细胞向雄性生殖细胞方向分化
Author: Qian WAN ¹ ; Hua LU ; Yanli DENG ; Limei LIANG
Author Information

1. 成都中医药大学第二临床医学院中西医生殖实验室
Keywords: psoralen; rat mesenchymal stem cells; differentiation marker genes; male germ cells
From: Journal of Southern Medical University 2013;(12):1723-1726
CountryChina
Language:Chinese
Abstract: Objective To test the hypothesis that psoralen induces rat mesenchymal stem cells (RMSCs) to differentiate towards male germ cells. Methods RMSCs were induced by psoralen at the final concentration of 3.0 μg/ml, and the morphological changes of the cells were detected microscopically and the cell proliferation changes were measured by MTT assay. The expressions of 7 representative marker genes of male germ cells, namely Oct-4, Stra8, RVLG, SCP3, TNP2, Itgb1, and Itga6, were investigated in the induced cells by real-time quantitative PCR. Results RMSCs showed no obvious morphological changes after induction with 3.0μg/ml psoralen for 72 h. Psoralen induction for 5 days did not significantly affect the proliferation of RMSCs; Psoralen induction for 72 h, however, significantly up-regulated the genes Oct-4, Stra8, SCP3, and Itgb1 (P<0.05) without affecting the expressions of the genes RVLG, TNP2, or Itga6 (P>0.05). Conclusion Psoralen may participate in the differentiation of RMSCs towards male germ cells.