title: Electrical stimulation modulates fate determination of differentiating embryonic stem cells.
abstract: A clear understanding of cell fate regulation during differentiation is key in successfully using stem cells for therapeutic applications. Here, we report that mild electrical stimulation strongly influences embryonic stem cells to assume a neuronal fate. Although the resulting neuronal cells showed no sign of specific terminal differentiation in culture, they showed potential to differentiate into various types of neurons in vivo, and, in adult mice, contributed to the injured spinal cord as neuronal cells. Induction of calcium ion influx is significant in this differentiation system. This phenomenon opens up possibilities for understanding novel mechanisms underlying cellular differentiation and early development, and, perhaps more importantly, suggests possibilities for treatments in medical contexts.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Cell Culture Development, Yamada Research Unit, Molecular Neuropathology Group, Institute of Physical and Chemical Research, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahisa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kentaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanemura
authors.forename: Seiji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okada
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iwanami
authors.forename: Masaya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Hideaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Mizuno
authors.forename: Michiru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozawa
authors.forename: Ritsuko
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohyama-Goto
authors.forename: Naohito
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kitamura
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kawano
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tan-Takeuchi
authors.forename: Chiho
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ohtsuka
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miyawaki
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takashima
authors.forename: Masaharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Yoshiaki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Toyama
authors.forename: Hideyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okano
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology*; D020013:Calcium Signaling; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology*; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D002118:Calcium