Rapid Induction of Neuronal Phenotypes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Morphological Observation

Maizatul Fazilah, Abd Razak and Muna, Sabri (2025) Rapid Induction of Neuronal Phenotypes in Mesenchymal Stem Cells: A Morphological Observation. Malaysian Journal of Medicine & Health Sciences. pp. 1-27. ISSN 2636-9346 (In Press)

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Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction: The restricted regenerative potential of the central nervous system remains a significant barrier in the treatment of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) offer a promising therapeutic avenue due to their multipotency and ability to differentiate into neuronal phenotypes. This study evaluated the neurogenic potential of β-mercaptoethanol (BME), a low-cost thiol-based small molecule, by morphological assessment post-treatment of bone marrow-derived MSCs with BME. Methodology: Confluent cultures of rat MSCs were subjected to a biphasic induction protocol, with initial exposure to 1 mM BME for 24 h followed by 10 mM BME for 5 h. Ascorbic acid (AA) served as a positive control, and untreated MSCs as a negative control. Differentiation was assessed based on morphological criteria (soma shape, neurite number and length) using a standardized scoring rubric, and quantified with ImageJ. Results: BME-treated MSCs exhibited significant neurogenic morphological features, including soma rounding and extended neurites, with a high proportion scoring in neuronal-like categories. One-way ANOVA with Tukey’s posthoc test revealed significant differences (p < 0.0001) in all morphological metrics between treated and untreated groups. While AA induced longer neurites (p < 0.01 vs. BME), no significant difference in the proportion of neuronal-like cells was observed between AA and BME groups (p > 0.05). Conclusion: These findings suggest that BME is a viable, cost-effective candidate for neurogenic induction protocols and may contribute to the development of simplified, chemically defined strategies for neuronal differentiation in regenerative medicine.

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