Differentiation of dissociated rat embryonic brain after allotransplantation into damaged nerve.

Fragments of the dorsolateral wall of the anterior brain vesicle from rat embryos on embryonic day 15 were dissociated and the resultant suspension containing single cells and cell aggregates was injected into the proximal segment of crushed sciatic nerve of adult animals for evaluation of their engrafting and differentiation under conditions of changed microenvironment. On days 1 and 21 postoperation, Msi-1, GFAP, NeuN, vimentin, and PCNA were detected by immunohistochemical methods. Small clusters of Msi-1-immunopositive cells were detected in the nerve trunks on the next day after transplantation. On day 21 after surgery, these precursors differentiate into nerve cells, astrocytes, and primarily ependymocytes.