Abstract: Objective In order to investigate whether the 12-week-old embryo brain choroid plexus epithelial cells have neural stem cell biological properties. Method Preparation of ependymal / subventricular zone (SVZ) and striatum brain sections and whole-mound sections of choroid plexus tissue was made by immunofluorescence staining, and under lasers canning confocal microscopy to observe the results and collect images. Results Twelve-week-old embryo choroid plexus epithelial cells express neural stem cell markers CD133, Nestin and Sox2. Neural stem cells markers were in polarity distribution in the choroid plexus epithelial cells, there was no colocalization. A part of microvilli in the apical surface of the choroid plexus epithelial cells facing the ventricular cavity also expressed CD133, while the SVZ and striatum showed a very small number of CD133 positive cells. Conclusion Twelve-week-old embryo brain choroid plexus epithelial cells are destined to differentiate, providing not only the microenvironment for maintenance of neural stem cells in niche but also have properties of neural stem cells.

Key words: Choroid plexus, Ependyma, Neural stem cells, Fluorescent staining, Embryo, Human