OBJECTIVESTo assess the culture and differentiation of neural stem cells in embryonic mice and set up a basis for further research in to neural stem cells.

METHODSEmbryonic cortices of mice were dissociated and single cell suspensions were achieved by mechanical methods in sterile conditions, and cells were seeded in uncoated plate in N2 medium. The cells were passaged by mechanical methods, frozen and thawed by general procedure. They were identified by immunocytochemical techniques.

RESULTSNeural stem cells from embryonic mice were successfully cultured forming typical neurospheres in suspension. Neurons, astrocytes and oligodendrocytes were differentiated from neural stem cells, with a ratio of 7%, 85% - 90% and 2% - 4% respectively.

CONCLUSIONSNeural stem cells, which can be cultured and passaged steadily in vitro and they are the ideal cell sources for cell transplantation and gene therapy.

Animals ; Cell Differentiation ; Cells, Cultured ; Embryo, Mammalian ; cytology ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Neurons ; cytology ; Stem Cells ; cytology

OBJECTIVETo assess the embolic effects and biocompatibility of Eudragit mixture, a new liquid embolic agent.

METHODSIn vitro, the viscosity and precipitation time of Eudragit mixtures at several concentrations were measured to study the best proportion of components of the mixture. In vivo, a branch of the right external carotid artery was embolized with Eudragit mixture in 12 rabbits, and with n-butyl cyanoacrylate in another 12 rabbits for a comparative study of the general, angiographic and histopathologic changes between the two groups.

RESULTSEudragit mixture containing 7.5 g Eudragit, 50 ml absolute ethanol and 50 ml iopromide was shown in vitro to have good properties including rapid precipitation and soft elastic sponge formation upon contact with blood; in vivo, to be nontoxic, nonadherent to the microcatheter and able to embolize the vascular lumen completely without later recanalisation.

CONCLUSIONEudragit mixture is an effective, nontoxic, safe and promising liquid embolic agent.

Animals ; Carotid Artery Thrombosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; therapy ; Cerebral Angiography ; Chemical Precipitation ; Embolism ; therapy ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; methods ; Enbucrilate ; therapeutic use ; Male ; Polymethacrylic Acids ; chemistry ; therapeutic use ; Rabbits ; Viscosity