This chapter describes the culture and propagation of murine embryonic stem cells, F9 and P19, and strategies for differentiation of these stem cells into neurons. Additional techniques are described for obtaining enriched populations of mature neurons from P19 cells and differentiation of F9 cells into serotonergic or catecholaminergic neurons. The protocols described herein can be used for dissection of the pathways such as gliogenesis and neurogenesis that are involved in differentiation of pluripotent stem cells such as F9 and P19 into glial cells or terminally differentiated neurons.
Keywords: Differentiation; F9; Murine teratocarcinoma; P19; Serotonergic and catecholaminergic neurons.