Fig. 1

Characterization of cortical neuroblasts. We characterized the cells with various immature and mature neuronal markers. Western blot analysis demonstrated that the cells expressed Tbr2, nestin and NF-68 and lacked NSE and NF-200 indicating primitive nature of cells [Fig. 1a , (b, lower panel, first lane) & (c, lower panel, first lane)]. Application of cAMP for 24 h stimulated neuronal differentiation which is apparent by neurite outgrowth. (Fig. 1b , right). Further differentiation induction with cAMP showed the presence of neuron marker NSE compared to control (CONT) (Fig. 1b , lower panel). The classical neural differentiation potential of these nestin-positive cells was further determined by maintaining the cells in serum free media. It is known that serum deprivation promotes neural differentiation. Most of the cells after 24 h of serum deprivation induced differentiation which was evident by neuron like morphology with spherical cell body and long processes (Fig. 1c , right). Neuronal marker, NF-200 which is generally expressed after differentiation was confirmed by NF-200 immunoblotting (Fig. 1c , lower panel)