Effects of folate on proliferation of neural stem cells of fetal rat

Objective To study the effect of folate on neural stem cells(NSCs)proliferation via MARK signal pathway in fetal rats in vitro.Methods NSCs of fetal Sprague-Dawley rat from E14d to E16d were cultured,divided into four groups which were control group,folate-deficiency group,folate-low group and folate-high group.NSCs were collected after being cultrured 6 d.The proliferation of NSCs was detected by BrdU in corporating method and immunohistochemistry method.The level of pERK1/2 expression were detected by western blot method.Results The percentage of Nestin and BrdU positive cells in total cells(x±s)in folate-low group(70.5±2.7)and folate-high group(78.8±6.9)was significantly higher than that in control group((64.2±8.9),P<0.05).The levels of pERK1(x±s)in folate-low group(0.407 ±0.018)and folate-high group(01443±01019)were higher than those in control group((0.388±0.011),P<0.05),and the levels of pERK2 in folate-low group(0.547±0.044)and folate-high group(0.563±0.041)were higher than those in control group((0.507±0.018),P<0.05).Conclusion Folate could promote proliferation of fetal NSCs via MAPK signal pathway.