Abstract: Objective: To establish a method of adherent culture of neural precursor cells in vitro, and to study the effect of ethanol on proliferation of neural precursor cells. Methods: Neural precursor cells were mechanically dissociated from the cerebral cortex of E13 rats and cultured for 5 days, and then fluorescence immunocytochemistry was applied to identify the neural precursor cells and their proliferation ability. Cells were subjected to different concentrations of ethanol for 24 hours. Then brdu incorporation and MTT assays were employed to study the effect of ethanol on proliferation of neural precursor cells. Results: Purity of the neural precursor cells cultured for 5 days was 97%, and proliferation was produced in all. Ethanol (25-50mmol/L) could inhibit proliferation of neural precursor cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion: Cells cultured for 5 days in vitro are nestin-positive and have the ability of proliferation and self-renewal. Low and middle concentrations of ethanol can inhibit the proliferation of neural precursor cells.

Key words: Fetal alcohol syndrome, Alcoholism, Neural precursor cells, Proliferation