Methods are described for the production of neurons or neuronal progenitor
cells. Multipotent neural stem cells are proliferated in the presence of growth
factors and erythropoietin which induces the generation of neuronal progenitor
cells. The erythropoietin may be exogenously applied to the multipotent neural
stem cells, or alternatively, the cells can be subjected to hypoxic insult which
induces the cells to express erythropoietin.
