The present invention provides a method for producing motor neurons and
GABAergic neurons characterized by including suspension-culturing
embryonic stem cells in the presence or absence of a protein noggin to
form embryoid bodies, selectively amplifying into neural stem cells from
them by suspension culture in the presence of a fibroblast growth factor
and a sonic hedgehog protein, and then differentiating the same.
According to this method, at least motor neurons and GABAergic neurons
can be systemically and efficiently produced from ES cells. Selective
acquisition of neurons would be applicable to transplant therapy for
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's chorea, Alzheimer's disease,
etc.