Homayoun Naderain - Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Neda Khanlarkhani - Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Iraj Ragerdi Kashani - Department of Anatomy , Faculty of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Amirabbas Atlasi - Student Research Committee, Faculty of Dentistry, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran
Mohammad Ali Atlasi - Anatomical Sciences Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

Steroids promote the myelination and regeneration in the peripheral nervous system. Whereas, little is known about the inducing effects by which the hormones exert their effects on Schwann cells differentiation. This could be revealed by the expression of Schwann cell markers in adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs). The purpose of this study was to present the effects of progesterone and ۱۷ β-estradiol on the Schwann cell markers in rat ADSCs. The mesenchymal stem cell markers (CD۷۳, and CD۹۰) were assayed by flow cytometry. Rat ADSCs were sequentially treated with β-mercaptoethanol, and all-trans-retinoic acid, followed by a mixture of basic fibrobroblast growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, forskolin and heregulin. In experimental groups, forskolin and heregulin were substituted by progesterone and ۱۷ β-estradiol. After induction, the expression of Schwann cell markers P۰, and S-۱۰۰ and the cellular immunocytochemical staining positive rate of anti-S۱۰۰ and anti-glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) antibodies were compared in the experimental and control groups. Progesterone and ۱۷ β-estradiol triggered P۰ and S-۱۰۰ genes expression and induced a cellular immunocytochemical staining positive rate of S-۱۰۰ and GFAP in rats ADSCs. Progesterone induced these changes stronger than ۱۷ β-estradiol. Thus, progesterone may induce rat ADSCs toward Schwann-like cells by expression of Schwann cell markers and is more potent than ۱۷ β-estradiol in the expression of these markers.

۱۷ β–estradiol, Adipose tissue, Mesenchymal stem cells, Progesterone, Schwann cells