Directing Rat Hair Follicle Stem Cells Toward Neuronal Lineage With Enhanced Trophic Factor Expression

This study explores the impact of chick embryo extract (CEE) on rat hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) to promote their differentiation into neuronal lineages and enhance trophic factor expression. HFSCs were isolated from rat whisker pads and cultured with fetal bovine serum (FBS) alone or combined with CEE. The CEE preconditioning resulted in significant morphological changes, promoting neuronal differentiation and increasing the expression of neurotrophic factors like BDNF and VEGF. The CEE-FBS group exhibited more cells with neurites and longer neurite lengths, indicating a shift toward neural-like morphology. Additionally, there was a reduction in the glial marker PDGFR-α and an increase in the neuronal marker MAP2, suggesting a commitment to neuronal lineage. The study, involving 33 samples, suggests that CEE preconditioning could enhance the therapeutic potential of HFSCs for central nervous system regeneration.