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We examined the gene expression of MASH-1, MATH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2 during neural differentiation of P19 embryonal carcinoma cells using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and high performance liquid chromatography. These proteins are members of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor family and their expressions are reported to be transient and restricted in the nervous system during early neurogenesis. Retinoic acid (RA-, 1 microM)-treatment and aggregation for 4 days induced and greatly increased MASH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2 mRNA in P19 cells. The increases peaked at day 3, 4 and 5, respectively. RA-treatment increased MATH-1 mRNA slightly. mRNA of MAP2, a neural differentiation marker, were increased by RA-treatment and the increases reached to the plateau at day 5. The results indicate that the gene expression of MASH-1, MATH-1, neuroD and NSCL-2 during neural differentiation in P19 cells is transient and the order is similar to that in the mouse embryo nervous system as previously reported.

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