FIG. 7.

Differentiation of human neural stem cells induced by ECM. Human cortical neuroepithelial stem cell two-dimensional neuronal differentiation induced by CNS and non-CNS ECM as indicated by immunofluorescent staining with βIII-tubulin. Differentiation was compared in culture medium supplemented 50:50 with: (A) neutralized ECM-free pepsin-HCl as a negative control, (B) brain ECM at 100 μg/mL, (C) spinal cord ECM at 100 μg/mL, or (D) urinary bladder ECM at 100 μg/mL. (E) Normal culture medium without growth factors diluted 50:50 in phosphate-buffered saline served as a positive control. (F) Neuronal differentiation of human neural stem cells was greater when exposed to CNS ECM compared with non-CNS ECM. *Brain ECM induced neurons at a rate comparable to the positive control and greater than urinary bladder ECM and the negative control. **Spinal cord ECM induced neurons at a lower rate compared with the positive control that did not differ significantly from brain ECM but was greater than urinary bladder ECM and the negative control. Urinary bladder ECM did not induce neurons at a greater rate than the negative control. Concentrations are μg protein per mL ECM solution. Negative control contrast increased to improve visualization of background immunofluorescence at 488 nm. Scale bar is 50 μm. Significant differences were determined between all groups shown by one-way ANOVA with Tukey–Kramer post hoc analysis (p<0.05). CNS, central nervous system. Color images available online at www.liebertpub.com/tea