Optimizing the neuronal differentiation of mouse neural progenitor cells.

Abstract

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is chiefly caused by the death of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra. Though there have been developments in modern medicine to treat PD, none have been successful in relieving these symptoms completely. As such, cell replacement therapy has been widely touted as the next best treatment; an area in which neuronal differentiation plays an important role. It has been widely shown that neural progenitor cells (NPCs) can be differentiated into dopaminergic neurons, which can be transplanted into an animal model to alleviate the symptoms of PD. Hence, through the use of molecular and cellular factors such as laminin concentration, fibroblast growth factor 8 (FGF-8), sonic hedgehog (SHH), co-culture methods and many more, we sought to optimize the current protocol for the development of DA neurons and to improve the survivability of neurons in long term differentiation cultures. Though the various methods tested had no significant effect on the differentiation of NPCs into DA neurons, we found that the seeding density, neurosphere culture and astrocyte co-culture were particularly effective in enhancing the long term survival of the differentiated neurons. These findings bring forth the possibility of combining these factors for successful DA differentiation in the future.