Objective　　　To study the characteristic maintenance of mesenchymal progenitor cells (MPCs)-derived neuron-like cells after being transplanted into denervated muscle.　　　 Methods　　　MPCs were separated from bones of hind limbs of GFP transgenic C57 mice mechanically

and were cultured and induced to differentiate in vitro. After being induced

directionally by the supernatants from primary culture of neuron

MPCs at passage3 in good growth were collected and prepared into cell suspension (5×10

5

/μL). Twenty-four 12-week-old C57 mice were randomized into four groups (n=6). In the injury+transplantation and the sham operation + transplantation groups

5 μL of MPCs suspension was injected by points into triceps muscle of mice. In the injury + sodium chloride and the sham operation+sodium chloride group

5 μL of sodium chloride was injected by points into triceps muscle of mice. At 4 weeks after operation

the survival of the transplanted MPC cells were observed by fluorescent microscopy

the ultrastructure was observed by electron microscopy

and the expression of neuronal specific markers of neuron-specific enolase (NSE) and neuronal nuclei protein (NeuN) and neuroglial specific marker of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were detected by immunofluorescence staining.　　　 Results　　　The transplanted cells grew well and distributed uniformly in the gap of muscle cells. The degeneration of myocyte nucleus

mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum and the musculus fibration were inhibited. NSE [(58.35±1.37)%

]

NeuN [(60.22±0.16)%

]

and GFAP [(13.32±1.65)%

]

were positively expressed in the transplanted cells of the injury + transplantation group rather than in those of other groups.　　　 Conclusion　　　MPCs have good biological activity. Neuron-like cells and neuroglia-like cells differentiated from MPCs in vitro can maintain their characteristics and inhibit the degeneration of myocyte nucleus

mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum and musculus fibration after being transplanted into the denervated muscle．