BACKGROUND: The low survival rate of neuron cells is one of the main mechanisms of stem cell allograft, which might lead to the failure of allograft. Nuclear factor-KB (NF-kB) is one of main transcription factors for cell signaling transduction and participates in call proliferation and differentiation.OBJECTIVE: To study the differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells (MDSCs) into neuron-like cells induced by ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) and Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection in vitro, and the expression of NF- kB.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: The experiment at cell molecular level was performed at the Oral Science Laboratory of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical College from March to May 2008.MATERIALS: A total of 10 Sprague Dawley neonatal rats aged 7 days were supplied by Experimental Animal Center, Liaoning Medical University. CNTF (Sigma, USA) and Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection (Chiatai Qingchunbao Pharmacantical Co.,Ltd., China) were used in this study.METHODS: Rat MDSCs were harvested in vitro, pudfied by differential adherence and enzyme digestion, and incubated in 6-well plate. Samples in the induction group were incubated in DMEM containing CNTF for 24 hours. The medium was changed.Subsequently, samples were dnsed three times, and then incubated in serum-free DMEM supplemented with Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection for 5 hours. Samples in the control group were treated with serum-free DMEM.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurofilament protein and NF-KB inhibitor protein expression were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Westem blotting.RESULTS: No neurofilament protein expression was found in MDSCs before induction, and neurofilament protein-positive MDSCs were detected following induction. Results of gel electrophoresis and Westam blot showed that no significant differences in NF-kB inhibitor protein expression were determined in the control group, and NF-kB inhibitor protein expression was significantly decreased in the induction group after induction.CONCLUSION: CNTF and Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection could inhibit the activation of NF-kB and induce the differentiation of MDSCs into neuron-like cells.Zeng XY, Wang W, Sun L, Zhang L, Zeng LD.Differentiation of muscle-derived stem cells into neuron-like cells induced by ciliary neurotrophic factor and Compound Salvia Miltiorrhiza Injection in vitro.Zhongguo Zuzhi Gongcheng Yanjiu yu Linchuang Kangfu.2009;13(27): 5336-5340. [http://www.crter.cn http://en.zglckf.com]