To investigate the molecular mechanism underlying taurine-stimulated proliferation and differentiation of cochlear neural stem cells (NSCs) and potential involvement of Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway. The NSCs were characterized with immunofluorescence stained with nestin antibody. Cell viability was determined by MTT assay. The relative proliferation was measured by BrdU incorporation assay. The morphologic index was measured under light microscope. The relative protein level was determined by immunoblotting. Here we presented our findings that taurine stimulated proliferation and neurite outgrowth of NSCs, which was completely abolished by Shh inhibitor cyclopamine. In addition, cyclopamine antagonized taurine’s effect on glutamatergic and GABAergic neuron population via suppressing expressions of Ptc-1, Smo and Gli-1. Our data supported the critical role of Shh pathway underlying the protective effect of taurine on auditory neural system.

目的探讨牛磺酸刺激耳蜗神经干细胞（NSCs）增殖和分化以及Sonic Hedgehog（Shh）途径的潜在参与的分子机制。通过用巢蛋白抗体染色的免疫荧光来表征NSC。通过MTT测定法测定细胞活力。通过BrdU掺入测定法测量相对增殖。在光学显微镜下测量形态学指标。相对蛋白水平通过免疫印迹确定。在这里，我们介绍我们的发现，牛磺酸刺激NSC的增殖和神经突向外生长，而Shh抑制剂环巴胺已完全消除了牛磺酸。此外，环巴胺通过抑制Ptc-1，Smo和Gli-1的表达来拮抗牛磺酸对谷氨酸能和GABA能神经元群体的作用。