Abstract: Objective To apply the exogenous monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) to induce the neural stem cells in vivo.Methods 64 adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into blank (n=4), control (n=30) and experimental (n=30) groups. The
experimental group was injected with MCP-1 into the cerebra, and the control group with PBS, and the blank group with no intervention.The number of nestin positive cells in brain was observed with immunohistochemistry 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 days after injection. Results The number of nestin positive cells increased with time in the cortex and hippocampus in the experimental group (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between the control group and the blank group (P>0.05). Conclusion Exogenous MCP-1 may induce the increase of neural stem cells in vivo.

Key words: monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, neural stem cells, chemotactic factor, nestin