BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: P19 carcinoma stem cells are able to differentiate into embryonic cells with three germ layers. Given the fact that differentiated cells can reduce complications associated with degenerative diseases of the nervous system, in this study, we aimed to investigate the differentiation of P19 stem cells into neuronal cells under the influence of royal jelly.

METHODS: In this basic-applied research, embryoid bodies, prepared in P19 cell suspension culture, were transferred to gelatinized containers and classified in six groups, receiving 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively; five wells were allocated to each group of cells. Morphological evaluation of cell differentiation was performed via cresyl violet staining. Also, immunofluorescence technique was used to track the expression of neuronal marker proteins such as synaptophysin and β-tubulin III. Finally, the findings were analyzed.

FINDINGS: The present findings showed that cells exposed to royal jelly responded positively to specific staining of nerve cells. In groups receiving different concentrations of royal jelly, the mean percentage of cell differentiation was significantly higher than the negative control group (9±2.3). The highest percentage of cell differentiation was observed in groups treated with 200 and 300 mg/ml of royal jelly, respectively (98±4.8 and 99.3±2.2, respectively) (p<0.05). Based on the findings, the mean percentage of cell differentiation in the group receiving 200 mg/ml of royal jelly was not significantly different from the group receiving a concentration of 300 mg/ml.

CONCLUSION: The results of the present study showed that P19 cells are able to differentiate into neuronal cells, and therefore, they could be used in cell-based therapy for neurological diseases.