The @entity14293 @entity189 cell line represents a pluripotential stem cell that can differentiate along the neural or muscle cell lineage when exposed to different environments. Exposure to @entity1968 induces @entity14293 cells to differentiate into neurons and astrocytes that express similar developmental markers as their embryonic counterparts. We examined the expression of gap junction genes during differentiation of these stem cells into neurons and astrocytes. Untreated @entity14293 cells express at least two gap junction proteins, connexins 26 and 43. @entity50870 could not be detected in these cells. Treatment for 96 hr with 0.3 mM @entity1968 induced the @entity14293 cells to differentiate first into neurons followed by astrocytes. @entity1968 produced a decrease in @entity50870 mRNA, protein, and functional gap junctions. @entity43146 message was not affected by @entity1968 treatment. The neurons that developed consisted of small round cell bodies extending two to three neurites and expressed @entity7001 . @entity43146 was detected at sites of cell-cell and cell-neurite contact within 3 days following differentiation with @entity1968 . The astrocytes were examined for production of their intermediate filament marker, @entity9327 ( @entity9327 ). @entity9327 was first detected at 8 days by Western blotting. In culture, astrocytes co-expressed @entity9327 and @entity50870 similar to primary cultures of @entity19 brain astrocytes. These results suggest that differentiation of neurons and glial cells involves specific connexin expression in each cell type. The @entity14293 cell line will provide a valuable model with which to examine the role gap junctions play during differentiation events of developing neurons and astrocytes.

Differential expression of gap junctions in neurons and astrocytes derived from XXXX @entity189 cells.

@entity14293 :: ('83430(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['P19'] @entity43146 :: ('14619(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['Connexin26'] @entity50870 :: ('14618(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['Connexin32', 'connexin43'] @entity9327 :: ('14580(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['glial fibrillary acidic protein', 'GFAP'] @entity19 :: ('10090', 'Species') :: ['mouse'] @entity189 :: ('MESH:D002277', 'Disease') :: ['embryonal carcinoma'] @entity7001 :: ('17756(Tax:10090)', 'Gene') :: ['MAP2'] @entity1968 :: ('MESH:D014212', 'Chemical') :: ['retinoic acid', 'Retinoic acid']
@entity14293 :: (83430(Tax:10090),Gene) :: ['P19']
