Objective   To study whether noggin alone can induce human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to differentiate into neural cells for the treatment of neural degenerative diseases.    Methods   Human bone marrow MSCs were primarily cultured and then divided into control

Ad group of empty adenovirus vector and Ad-noggin group of adenovirus vector with noggin gene. Their morphological changes were observed with fluorescence microscopy and laser confocal microscopy

and the results of 48 h

4

7

10 d were analyzed with statistical methods.    Results   Both the vector made human bone marrow MSCs carry green fluorescence. Ad group didn’t show any morphological changes. While for Ad-noggin group

a few neural-like cells appeared in 48 h after transfection. The number of such cells was increased

and there were some neurites around the cells after 4 d. The cells amplified greatly after 10 d.  Compared to those of 7 d after transfection

the soma and dendritic diameters of Ad-noggin group were significantly increased after 10 d (P0.05)

but there was no change in morphology.    Conclusion   Adenovirus vector with noggin gene alone induces human bone marrow MSCs to differentiate into neuron-like cells.