Neural Progenitor Cells Derived from Human Embryonic Stem Cells as an Origin of Dopaminergic Neurons

Figure 5

Direct dopaminergic neuron differentiation from neural progenitor cells. (a) Schematic of differentiation conditions for DA neurons from neural progenitors. (b) Phase contrast pictures showing morphological changes of cells during the differentiation. Cells were immunostained against MAP2 and TH, indicating dopaminergic neuron phenotypes. (c) The number of TH-positive neurons in DA-inducing condition (DA) was significantly greater than that without growth factor condition (−GF). Data are presented as mean ± s.d. (). represents by Student’s -test. (d) Gene expression result suggested that differentiated neural progenitor cells in DA condition expressed midbrain dopaminergic neuron markers, including NURR1, PITX3, and EN1.

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