Investigation of the neurotrophic effect of fetal mouse hippocampal extract on the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on a collagen hydrogel

Haji Seyed Javadi, Rozhin; Hassanzadeh Nemati, Nahid; Nouri-Felekori, Mohammad

doi:10.48311/biot.2025.103431.0

Investigation of the neurotrophic effect of fetal mouse hippocampal extract on the proliferation and differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells cultured on a collagen hydrogel

Document Type : Original Research

Authors

Rozhin Haji Seyed Javadi

Nahid Hassanzadeh Nemati

Mohammad Nouri-Felekori

Department of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.48311/biot.2025.103431.0

Abstract

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are among the most widely used types of adult stem cells in studies related to tissue engineering, cell therapy, and regenerative medicine. Ensuring the appropriate conditions and medium for the proliferation of these cells, as well as guiding their differentiation towards target cells, particularly for tissues with limited self-repair capabilities (e.g., neural cells), has been a focus in numerous studies. In the present study, the proliferative and differnetiative behavior of MSCs derived from the bone marrow of mice was examined in proximity to a collagen hydrogel and different concentrations of hippocampal extract obtained from fetal mouse brain tissue. Results from cellular assays, including the MTT test, confirmed the high biocompatibility of collagen hydrogel and the positive effect of hippocampal extract on cell growth. The expression levels of proteins such as nestin and GFAP, as well as fluorescence microscopy images, indicated that the presence of hippocampal extract along with collagen hydrogel not only promotes the formation of neural progenitor cells, but also encourages these cells to retain their stemness and enhances their growth and proliferation. Overall, it appears that collagen hydrogel and the neurotrophic effects of hippocampal extract can create suitable conditions for the production of neural progenitor cells.

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