Abstract: Objective To investigate the biological characterization of olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) in neonate mice. Methods OECs were isolated from postnatal 1-2 days ICR mice olfactory bulbs. The primarily cultured OECs were with the treatment of method based on the rates of attachment, arabinoside cytosine (Ara-C) and bFGF, and OECs were analyzed by means of immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR. Results Most OECs are bipolar or tripolar, and the purity was estimated to be over 88.7%. The non- OECs cells consists of astrocytes (＜3%), neurons (＜1%), oligodendrocytes (＜1%) and fibroblas. Positive staining of P75NGFR, NGF, BDNF and CNPase was observed in OECs by immunocytochemistry, but GFAP and Nestin was not. The result of RT-PCR showed that OECs could express mRNA of β-NGF, BDNF, NT-3, PDGF-B, bFGF, EGF, trkA and trkB, but not NT-4. Conclusions The partial datum of morphology, immunocytochemistry and molecular biology of OECs were procured in this study. But it needs a further research whether the age of neonate mice or culture conditions have effects on OECs.

Key words: olfactory ensheathing cells, cell culture, immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR