Figure 8
From: Generation of diverse neuronal subtypes in cloned populations of stem-like cells
Neuron formation and gene expression after short- or long-term exposure to RA. Differentiation of NE-4C cells was induced by exposure to 10-6 M RA for 12, 72 or 168 hours. A: The number of neurons was determined by counting NeuN-positive nuclei after a 168-hour period of differentiation (stage 4). In comparison to longer (72-hour or 168-hour) treatments, short term (12-hour) induction resulted in less NeuN-positive neurons. (Averages and standard deviation values were calculated from 4 identically treated sister-cultures (n = 4)). B: Short-term (12-hour) or long-term (72 or 168 hours) presence of RA did not cause significant changes in the expression of hox2b, gbx2 and pax6 genes. The continuous presence of RA did not inhibit the expression of the dorsal forebrain specific emx2 gene, but was sufficient to reduce the RA-sensitive otx2 mRNA level. The results of a representative RT-PCR assay on non-induced (stage 1; left column) and differentiated, neuron-rich (stage 4; three right columns) cultures are shown.