Objective    To investigate the culture

proliferation and differentiation of human neural progenitor cells derived from embryonic brains of different age.     Methods    The free-floating cells were cultured as 6-9 weeks embryonic whole brain group

14-17 weeks embryonic whole brain group

14-17 weeks embryonic striatum group. The expression of Nestin

self-renewal and multipotential properties of the cell clusters were identified. The growth and proliferation of the cell aggregations of each group were observed. After the neurospheres from each group were induced

the percentage of neuron or astrocyte was investigated by immunocytochemical staining.     Results    The cell aggregations of each group were positive of Nestin and Brdu immunochemical stainings

and could differentiate into MAP2 or GFAP positive cells. One week in vitro

there were the most neurospheres in 14-17 weeks embryonic striatum group

and a few in 6-9 weeks embryonic whole brain group

and fewer in 14-17 weeks embryonic whole brain group. Single cell from 14-17 weeks embryonic striatum group could form clone. After differentiation of neural progenitor cells from each group

the percentage of MAP2 or GFAP positive cells had no significant difference among the three groups.     Conclusion    Neural progenitor cells can be derived from embryonic brains of different age. With gestational age increasing

the neural progenitor cells become more difficult to be isolated from the whole brains. Different regions should be obtained as primary culture according to the different embryo age. The percentage of differentiated neuron or astrocyte is coincident in neural progenitor cells from embryonic brains of different age.