【Objective】 To prepare the acellular rat brain matrix scaffold and detect its cytocompatibility with neural stem cells.【Methods】 After anesthesia with 10% chloral hydrate

Sprague Dawley rats’ brain was removed

and then cerebral cortex was isolated. To make use of freeze-thaw

Triton X-100

sodium deoxycholate

DNA enzyme

and RNA enzyme

the acellular scaffold of rat brain tissue was prepared

and after cross-linked with Genipin

an initial acellular rat brain matrix scaffold was made. Then

Haematoxylin and Eosin staining (HE) was used to evaluate its content. Scanning elextron microscopy (SEM) was used to view the ultrastructure of the samples and measure the pore size of specimens. Immunohistochemical analysis of acellular scaffold was carried out to seek the distribution and content of the three major extracellular matrix-FN

LN and Col Ⅳ. The cytocompatibility of the acellular scaffold was assessed by observing NSCs’ growth

proliferation

and adhesion when co-cultured with the scaffold.【Results】 After treated by a variety of reagents

cells within rat brain tissue had been largely removed. The acellular scaffold had forms of three-dimensional network structure

good hydrophilicity

and a high degree of bionic. After cross-linked by Genipin

the three-dimensional scaffold had become more porous

with an average pore size (14.9±2.5) μm

porosity was (90.4±2.2)%

the degradation of scaffold was not found

and also no significant residual cell debris within scaffold was found. LN expression within the acellular scaffold was strong positive

while FN and Col IV expression were weakly positive. Had been cultured onto cross-linked scaffolds for 7 days

the NSCs had a pretty proliferation and adhesion to the scaffold. HE staining showed that there were a large number of cells within extracellular matrix

SEM showed that a large number of NSCs adhere to the surface of material

and some cells grew processes.【Conclusion】 The initial development of the acellular rat brain matrix scaffold has the structure of three-dimensional network

partly retains the extracellular matrix and has good cytocompatibility.