Figure 13

Nolz1 -mediated neurogenesis depends on RA signaling. (A) RT-PCR analysis of RARα, RARβ and Raldh3 mRNA expression in NPC cultures grown in normal conditions (control), in vitamin A-free medium (VitA^-) and in vitamin A-free medium in the presence or DEAB (VitA^- & DEAB) demonstrates a decrease in RARβ and Raldh3 mRNA in the absence of RA. The results are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean from at least three independent samples for each condition, and normalized to the control medium, considered as 100%. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t-test. ***P < 0.001 relative to control. (B,C) Nolz1 does not induce neuronal differentiation in a RA-free environment. (B) Representative pictures of immunofluorescence for Tuj1 or GFAP after transfection of hNolz in the absence or presence of DEAB. White arrows show double positive cells, open arrows show single EGFP stained cells. Scale bar: 30 μm. (C) Treatment with 1 μM DEAB in a vitamin A-free medium (DEAB) impairs the increase of Tuj1 and the reduction of GFAP observed in hNolz-transfected primary striatal cultures in control conditions (Cont.). The results are expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean from at least three independent samples for each condition, and normalized to the control medium, considered as 100%. Statistical analysis was performed with the Student's t-test (C). **P < 0.01, ***P < 0.001 relative to control. N.s., not significant.