There is provided a method of inducing differentiation of bone marrow
stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal muscle cells by introduction of
a Notch gene. Specifically, the invention provides a method of inducing
differentiation of bone marrow stromal cells to neural cells or skeletal
muscle cells in vitro, which method comprises introducing a Notch gene
and/or a Notch signaling related gene into the cells, wherein the finally
obtained differentiated cells are the result of cell division of the bone
marrow stromal cells into which the Notch gene and/or Notch signaling
related gene have been introduced. The invention also provides a method
of inducing further differentiation of the differentiation-induced neural
cells to dopaminergic neurons or acetylcholinergic neurons. The invention
yet further provides a treatment method for neurodegenerative and
skeletal muscle degenerative diseases which employs neural precursor
cells, neural cells or skeletal muscle cells produced by the method of
the invention.