BACKGROUND: To date, the use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease have solely focused on in vivo animal models. Because of the number of influencing factors, it has been difficult to determine a consistent outcome. OBJECTIVE: To establish an injury model in brain slices of substantia nigra and striatum using 1-methyl-4-phenylpytidinium ion (MPP+), and to investigate the effect of MSCs on dopaminergic neurons following MPP+ induced damage. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro, randomized, controlled, animal experiment using I mmunohistochemistry was performed at the Laboratory of the Department of Anatomy, Fudan University between January 2004 and December 2006. MATERIALS: Primary MSC cultures were obtained from femurs and tibias of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Organotypic brain slices were isolated from substantia nigra and striatum of 1-day-old Sprague Dawley rat pups. Monoclonal antibodies for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, 1:5 000) were from Santa Cruz (USA); goat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies labeled with FITC were from Boster Company (China). METHODS: Organotypic brain slices were cultured for 5 days in whole culture medium supplemented with 50% DMEM, 25% equine serum, and 25% Tyrode’s balanced salt solution. The medium was supplemented with 5 μg/mL Ara-C, and the culture was continued for an additional 5 days. The undergrowth of brain slices was discarded at day 10. Eugonic brain slices were cultured with basal media for an additional 7 days. The brain slices were divided into three groups: control, MPP+ exposure, and co-culture. For the MPP+ group, MPP+ (30 μmol/L) was added to the media at day 17 and brain slices were cultured for 4 days, followed by control media. For the co-culture group, the MPP+ injured brain slices were placed over MSCs in the well and were further cultured for 7 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After 28 days in culture, neurite outgrowth was examined in the brain slices under phase-contrast microscopy. The percent of area containing dead cells in each brain slice was calculated with the help of propidium iodide fluorescence. Brain slices were stained with antibodies for TH to indicate the presence of dopaminergic neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to determine the effect of MSCs on neuronal ultrastructure. RESULTS: Massive cell death and neurite breakage was observed in the MPP+ group. In addition, TH expression was significantly reduced, compared to the control group (P < 0.01). After 7 days in culture with MSCs, the co-culture group presented with less cell damage and reduced neurite breakage, and TH expression was increased. However, these changes were not significantly different from the MPP+ group (P < 0.01). Electron microscopy revealed reduced ultrastructural injury to cells in the brain slices. However, vacuoles were present in cells, with some autophagic vacuoles. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow-derived MSCs can promote survival of dopaminergic neurons following MPP+-induced neurotoxicity in co-cultures with substantia nigra and striatum brain slices. BACKGROUND: To date, the use of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease have exclusively focused on in vivo animal models. Because of the number of influencing factors, it has been difficult to determine a consistent outcome . OBJECTIVE: To establish an injury model in brain slices of substantia nigra and striatum using 1-methyl-4-phenylpytidinium ion (MPP +), and to investigate the effect of MSCs on dopaminergic neurons following MPP + induced damage. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: An in vitro, randomized, controlled, animal experiment using I mmunohistochemistry was performed at the Laboratory of the Department of Anatomy, Fudan University between January 2004 and December 2006. MATERIALS: Primary MSC cultures were obtained from femurs and tibias of adult Sprague Dawley rats. Organotypic brain slices were isolated from substantia nigra and striatum of 1-day-old Sprague Dawley rat pups. Monoclonal antibodies for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH, 1: 5000 METHODS: Organotypic brain slices were cultured for 5 days in whole culture medium supplemented with 50% DMEM, 25% equine serum , and 25% Tyrode’s balanced salt solution. The medium was supplemented with 5 μg / mL Ara-C, and the culture was continued for an additional 5 days. The undergrowth of brain slices was discarded at day 10. Eugonic brain slices were cultured with The brain slices were divided into three groups: control, MPP + exposure, and co-culture. For the MPP + group, MPP + (30 μmol / L) was added to the media at day 17 and brain slices were cultured for 4 days, followed by control media. For the co-culture group, the MPP + injured brain slices were placed over MSCs in the well and were further cultured for 7 days. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After 28 days in culture, neurite outgrowth was examined in the brain slices under phase-cont rast microscopy. The percent of area containing dead cells in each brain slice was calculated with the help of propidium iodide fluorescence. Brain slices were stained with antibodies for TH to indicate the presence of dopaminergic neurons. Transmission electron microscopy was applied to determine the effect of MSCs on neuronal ultrastructure. RESULTS: Massive cell death and neurite breakage was observed in the MPP + group. In addition, TH expression was significantly reduced, compared to the control group (P <0.01). After 7 days in culture with MSCs, the co- cultured groups presented with less cell damage and reduced neurite breakage, and TH expression was increased. However, these changes were not significantly different from the MPP + group (P <0.01). , vacuoles were present in cells, with some autophagic vacuoles. CONCLUSION: Bone marrow-derived MSCs can promote survival of dopaminergic neurons following MPP + -induced neurotoxicity in co-cultures with substantia nigra and striatum brain slices.