FIG. 5.

Deficient RARα pathway impaired neural differentiation At day 16, Tuj1 RNA expression was increased after RA treatment in both ESCs and iPSCs, and its expression was downregulated in the presence of the RARα antagonist ER50891, as assessed by qRT-PCR analysis (Aa) and western blot analysis (Ab). Immunocytochemical analysis showed that Nestin- and Tuj1-immunoreactive cells were detected in all conditions of iPSCs (B) and ESCs (C). Long processes were observed easily under RA treatment in iPSCs (Bc) and ESCs (Cc); however, the presence of the RARα antagonist ER50891 caused profound loss of long processes in both ESCs (Bd) and iPSCs (Cd). Cells without RA or ER50891 treatment (Ba and Ca) and with only ER50891 treatment (Bb and Cb) were used as controls. Scale bar, 50 μm. Error bars represent the mean±SEM. (*) P<0.05.