摘要Objective To explore the factors which induce differentiation of embryonic neural stem cells. Methods Rat embryonic neural stem cells were co-cultured with newborn rat Schwann cells in serum-free medium. The phenotype and specific-markers including tubulin-β, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and galactorcerebroside (GalC), were domonstrated by phase contrast microscopy and double immunofluorescence staining. Results Overall, 80%±5% of neural stem cells protruded several elongated processes and expressed tubulin-β antigen at high levels, while 20±3% of them protruded several short processes and were GalC or GFAP positive. Conclusion The factors secreted by Schwann cells could induce rat embryonic neural stem cell to differentiate.