Comparison of Differentiation and Proliferation Potential of Umbilical Cord and Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells for Production of Germ-Like Cells

Due to increase of infertile couples, potential differentiation and proliferation of umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and bone marrow stem cells (BM-MSCs) was compared to find proper stem cells for differentiation into germ-like cells. In this experimental study, isolated umbilical cord and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells were treated by Retinoic acid (10-6M) and Sertoli cells condition medium. Viability percentage and the rate of proliferation (population doubling time) of cells was calculated in both groups. The number of colonies was evaluated in different days of culture, and finally the expression of and meiotic genes investigated by RT-PCR. The viability percentage was higher in BM-MSCs group and the rate of proliferation of cells increased by elevating the passage number. The number of colonies in the bone marrow stem cells was significantly higher than that of the umbilical cord MSCs (p<0.05). In contrast, the expression of PLZF, OCT4 and SCP3 genes were detected in umbilical cord MSCs after 10 days of culture. However, in BM-MSC, the expression of PLZF and SCP3 genes was observed only after 15 days of culture. It seems that the human umbilical MSCs higher differentiation potential for producing germ-like cells when compared to the Bone marrow stem cells. In contrast, the proliferation potential of BM-MSCs is greater than umbilical cord MSCs. This difference is probably due to secreted growth factors from these cells.