Objective To investigate distribution of integrain ?1 in human oocytes and embryos before and after maturation/fertilization,dring the first and second meiosis,in morulae and blastocyst stage. Methods Human oocytes and embryos were stained by anti-integrin ?1 (PharMingen 09351D) and FITC-labeled second antibody (PharMingen 110094D),and observed by confocal microscope. Results Integrin ?1 concentrated in the nuclear area in matured oocytes,zygotes and 2-cell stage embryo,indicating that integrin ?1 might involve in mitosis.Dislike mouse,there was no distribution of integrin ?1 on the well-accepted sperm binding area on the oocytes,indicating that integrin ?1 might not involve in the binding and fusion of human sperm to human oocytes.Conclusion It was first postulated that integrin ?1 might actively involve in the pronuclear fusion process in human in vitro fertilized oocytes.The marker of ectotrophoblasts,polarized distribution of integrin ?1, appeared at the morulae stage.The stronger expression in ectotrophoblasts around the inner cell mass might indicate some specific function of the ectotrophoblasts near the ICM.

AIM:To explore the feasibility of inducing mouse embryonic stem cells into neural stem cells in vitro. METHODS: Embryonic body induced by retinoic acid and retinal m?ller cells were selected in neural stem cell-defined medium for 7 days, and the morphological changes were observed. The selected cells were stained immunocytochemically with anti-nestin, anti-BrdU antibodies, and their ability of expansion and differentiation were analyzed. RESULTS:Large amounts of neurospheres were derived from embryonic body in the selected medium on the 7th day, which could be passaged and differentiated, stained positive with nestin and BrdU, and expressed nestin, glutaminase and Brn-3 genes. CONCLUSION:Neural stem cells could be derived from embryonic body induced by RA and m?ller cells in the selected medium, which would offer an alternative to treat neuropathy such as glaucoma and retinal degeneration in the future.