Isolation culture and identification of human neural stem cells from human embryos

OBJECTIVE: To obtain and culture the human neural stem cells from the aborted human embryos. METHODS: The neural stem cells were isolated and purified by the specific proliferous culture system of neural stem cells, and the molecular maker and multi-potency of the obtained neural stem cells were identified. RESULTS: Human neural stem cells, which were isolated from 8 - 10 month old aborted human embryos, could express nestin ( a kind of specified antigen of the neural stem cell), and it could be differentiate into neurons and glials. CONCLUSION: Neural stem cells can exist in human embryos, and it can be expanded in vitro.