Abstract: Objective To investigate the function of basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) in the process of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (HUCMSCs) differentiating to Schwann-like cells, and its effect on proliferation of Schwann-like cells. Methods HUCMSCs were cultured and identified.After pre-induction, the cells were randomly divided into four groups and cultured continuously for 7 days (normal medium as group A1, normal medium with bFGF as group B1, normal medium with the classic cytokine cocktail as group C1 and C1 minus b-FGF as group D1).Schwann-like cells were identified by morphology and S100 immunofluorescence.Then the number of Schwann-like cells in each group was counted and the positive rate of S100 was calculated to analyze the role of b-FGF in the induction process; The Schwann-like cells were divided into two groups (normal medium as group A2, normal medium with bFGF as group B2) and cultured to observe the influence of b-FGF on proliferation of Schwann-like cells at day 2, 4, 6. Results In the experiments of induction, Schwann-like cells were not obvious in group A1 with S100 showing negative, and the cells were found in group B1, C1 and D1 with S100 showing positive.The number of Schwann-like cells and expression of S100 in each group were A1< B1< C1 (P< 0.05), D1< C1 (P< 0.05).In the experiments of proliferation, OD value at different time points in two groups were B2> A2 (P< 0.05). Conclusion b-FGF can not only promote hUCMSCs transform into Schwann-like cells, but also be in favor of the proliferation of Schwann-like cells.