Objective:To culture mesenchymal progenitor cells(MPC)from compact bone fragments in C57 mice in vitro and to study the feasibility of inducing directed differentiation of MPC into neuron-like cells in vitro. Methods:Bones of hind limbs of C57 mice were sheared into bone fragments and digested by collagenase type Ⅱ. Then

MPC were cultured in vitro and analyzed by flow cytometry for identification of its immunology phenotype. MPC of P3 in good growth were induced directionally by the supernatant cultured with primary neuron

and then detected the expression of neuronal specific markers neuron specific enolase(NSE)and neurofilament protein(NF)by immunocytochemical staining. Results:The primary MPC were cultured successfully and they grewwell after passage. Compared with that of the control group

the positive rate of CD29 and CD44 of MPC of antibody group had significant difference (P<0.05). Induced by supernatant cultured with primary neuron

MPC could express neuronal specific markers NSE and NF-H. Conclusion:The harvest rate of MPC isolated and cultured from compact bone fragments of mice is high and MPC could be induced and differentiated into neuron-like cells.