Study of Chondrocytic Differentiation of Muscle-derived Stem Cells in Vitro

Objective To induce muscle-derived stem cells(MDSCs)of rats to differentiate directionally towards chondrocytes in vitro and identify the differentiated cells. Methods MDSCs were isolated from SD rats and cultured in vitro with differential attachment method.BMP- 2 was used to induce transformation of MDSCs from the third passage. After 9 days of induction,specific markers of differentiation of chon- drocytes were detected by the appearance of toluidine blue staining and immunohistochemistry detection of collagen type Ⅱ. Results The induced MDSCs changed into triangle or polygonal shape from spindle shape after 7 days.Specific markers of chondrocytes were positive in the appearance of toluidine blue staining,immunohistochemistry detection of collagen type Ⅱ,and RT-PCR detection of collagen type Ⅱ and aggrecan mRNA. Conclusion BMP-2 can induce MDSCs to differentiate into chondrocytes in vitro.