BACKGROUND: The dendritic cell derived from different source has different biologic characteristic. As the yield of DC induced from spleen is lower, so the relative research is few. OBJECTIVE: This research was to induce dendritic cells from mice spleen mononuclear cells in vitro, then examined from their morphology, phenotype and function, and compared it with bone marrow derived DC. DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING: A fundamental study. The research was performed at The center of stem cell, Guiyang Medical College from September 2005 to June 2006. METERIALS:BALB/c and 129 mice were purchased from Animal center of Guiyang Medical College. Distill spleen and bone marrow mononuclear cells. Animal intervention met animal ethical standard. METHOD: mononuclear cells isolated from mice spleen cells were induced into dendritic cells in vitro by cultured in 25ng/ml GM-CSF and 25ng/ml IL-4,and then examined from their morphology, phenotype and function. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The morphologic characteristic, surface marker of DC, and the capacity to stimulate primary T cell response. RESULTS: Mice spleen derived DC were induced into mature through exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and exhibit dramatic veils of cytoplasm and extensive dendrites in their surfaces, high express CD11c, MHC-Ⅱ, CD86, their capacity to stimulate primary T cell responses in mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) would be shown strongly. The characteristics of Mice spleen derived DC were similar with BM-DC. CONCLUSION: Mice spleen derived mononuclear cells could be induced into DC with normal morphology, phenotype and function, provide a new reliable source for the functional research of DC and next produce corresponding anti-tumor vaccine