Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells derived from Wharton's jelly differentiate into cholinergic-like neurons in vitro

► Wharton's jelly mesenchymal stem cells were induced in conditioned medium. ► After the induction, the induced cells changed into bulbous cells. ► A positive expression of the cholinergic neuron's markers was found in the cells. ► Acetylcholine secretion in the induced cells was significantly elevated. ► The stem cells are cable of differentiating into cholinergic-like neurons.