Improvement in protocol to generate homogeneous glutamatergic neurons from mouse embryonic stem cells reduced apoptosis

► A recent study established a protocol to produce homogenous neurons from ES cells. ► But they were not sufficiently healthy for long-term observation. ► We made a substantial improvement in cell survival without decreasing its purity. ► We postulated several trophic factors are responsible for pro-survival effect. ► None of them prolonged the survival of glutamatergic neurons.