Objective Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) were induced to differentiate to the special histological types of neurons in vitro.The morphological change of cells and positive expression of specific antigen on membrane were studied,and the function of connection between the induced BMSCs was also detected.The feasibility of BMSCs differentiate to the special histological types of neurons was investigated.Methods BMSCs were divided into group Ⅰ (induced with bFGF+GDNF),group Ⅱ (induced with bFGF+GDNF+WHI-P131 +Shh),and control group (no revulsive).The morphologic change of cells was observed,and the positive rate of neuron specific surface antigen and the content of dopamine were detected.Formation of mature synaptic structure was detected by immunohistochemical assay of postsynaptic density protein 95 (PSD-95) expression,and synaptic loop was shown by FM1-43 stain synaptic vesicles.Results By immunohistochemical staining,the positive rates of dopamine transporter (DAT) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those in group Ⅰ,and dopamine can been detected in cell culture supematant of group Ⅱ.After BMSCs was induced into dopamine neuron-like cells,number and length of cell protrusions,positive rate of PSD-95 and fluorescence intensity of FM1-43 in group Ⅱ were significantly higher than those of group Ⅰ.Conclusions There were no significant change in positive rate of neuron-specific surface markers,rate of cell survival and differentiation rate after BMSCs differentiated to dopaminergic neuron-like cells.The number and length of cell protrusions,content of dopamine in cell culture supematant,positive rate of dopaminergic neuron-specific surface antigen (DAT and TH),synaptic function index (positive rate of PSD-95 and fluorescence intensity of synaptic loop) of group Ⅱ were all significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ.