Survival, migration, and differentiation of Sox1-GFP embryonic stem cells in coculture with an auditory brainstem slice preparation

The poor regeneration capability of the mammalian hearing organ has initiated different approaches to enhance its functionality after injury. To evaluate a potential neuronal repair paradigm in the inner ear and cochlear nerve we have previously used embryonic neuronal tissue and stem cells for implantation in vivo and in vitro. At present, we have used in vitro techniques to study the survival and differentiation of Sox1-green fluorescent protein (GFP) mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells as a monoculture or as a coculture with rat auditory brainstem slices. For the coculture, 300 microm-thick brainstem slices encompassing the cochlear nucleus and cochlear nerve were prepared from postnatal SD rats. The slices were propagated using the membrane interface method and the cochlear nuclei were prelabeled with DiI. After some days in culture a suspension of Sox1 cells was deposited next to the brainstem slice. Following deposition Sox1 cells migrated toward the brainstem and onto the cochlear nucleus. GFP was not detectable in undifferentiated ES cells but became evident during neural differentiation. Up to 2 weeks after transplantation the cocultures were fixed. The undifferentiated cells were evaluated with antibodies against progenitor cells whereas the differentiated cells were determined with neuronal and glial markers. The morphological and immunohistochemical data indicated that Sox1 cells in monoculture differentiated into a higher percentage of glial cells than neurons. However, when a coculture was used a significantly lower percentage of Sox1 cells differentiated into glial cells. The results demonstrate that a coculture of Sox1 cells and auditory brainstem present a useful model to study stem cell differentiation.