AIM: To compare the difference of the calcium ions concentration between neonatal rats retinal progenitor cells(RPCs)and brain neural stem cells(NSCs)under hypoxia cultivate in vitro.

METHODS: After isolated from the neonatal SD rats and cultured in serum-free medium in vitro, RPCs and brain NSCs were identified by fluorescent immunocytochemistry. After cultured under hypoxic condition for different time duration, cell morphology were observed under light microscope, and intracellular calcium fluorescence intensity were measured via laser scanning confocal microscopy(LSCM)and calcium fluorescence probe Fluo-4AM.

RESULTS: Cultured under hypoxic conditions, brain NSCs swelled and extended protrusions were noticed earlier than RPCs. With increasing time duration of hypoxia, intracellular calcium ion fluorescence intensity of both types of cells gradually increased. After 12 hours cultured under hypoxic condition, calcium ion fluorescence intensity of RPCs showed significant difference lower than the fluorescence intensity in NSCs(P<0.05).

CONCLUSION: Under hypoxic condition for 12 hours, the concentration of calcium ion in RPCs was lower than that in brain NSCs.