In Vitro Differentiation of Embryonal Stem Cells to Neurons

现在已经开发出许多系统，它们不再需要在生物过程的科学研究中使用动物。本研究旨在为细胞培养中神经元分化的研究开发一种新的模型系统。当在细胞培养条件下维持时，一小部分胚胎干细胞(ES)分化为神经元。将进行的研究将探索最大化选择神经元发育途径的ES细胞的百分比的方法。这一努力的成功将为未来的神经生物学研究提供许多重要的优势。例如，特定基因的修饰对神经元发育的影响可以在培养中研究，而不需要产生携带修饰基因的动物。此外，由于研究中的发展过程可以持续监测，因此整个过程都要接受调查。因此，这种技术进步的发展有可能对理解神经系统发育所涉及的过程具有根本重要性。

A number of systems have now been developed that obviate the need for the use of animals in the scientific investigation of biological processes. This research seeks to develop a new model system for the study of neuronal differentiation in cell culture. When maintained under cell culture conditions, a small fraction of embryonal stem (ES) cells differentiate into neurons. The studies that will be performed will investigate methods to maximize the percentage of ES cells that choose the neuronal development pathway. Success in this endeavor will provide a number of significant advantages for future neurobiological research. As an example, the effects of the modification of a specific gene on neuron development can be studied in culture, without the necessity of generating animals that carry the modified gene. Further, since the developmental process under study can be continually monitored, the entire process is subject to investigation. Development of this technological advance has the potential, therefore, to be of fundamental importance in understanding the processes involved in the development of the nervous system.