Vitamin A Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Vitamin A, including details on retinol, benefits, dosage, supplements, deficiency, information.

Retinoic acid induction of ES-cell-derived neurons: the radial glia connection.

Glaser T, Brüstle O

Institute of Reconstructive Neurobiology, University of Bonn Life & Brain Center and Hertie Foundation, D-53105 Bonn, Germany.

Neuronal induction by retinoic acid (RA) is commonly used in embryonic stem (ES) cell differentiation. Two recent papers show that this paradigm induces a population of neurogenic precursors with properties of radial glia. Upon differentiation, RA-treated cells give rise to a defined and developmentally restricted neuronal lineage. This role of RA in cell fate specification provides new perspectives for studying the radial glia-neuron transition and for generating homogenous populations of neurons from ES cells.

Published 25 July 2005 in Trends Neurosci, 28(8): 397-400.
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