Direct conversion of astrocytes into neuronal cells by drug cocktail.

A study which examined whether astrocytes can be induced into neuronal cells by a chemical cocktail of pharmaceutical compounds that contain valproic acid (VPA) and the transforming growth factor-beta receptor 1 kinase inhibitor Repsox in vitro using mouse brain as model. Topics covered include the addition of astrocytes to fill the blank and support the development of induced neuronal cells when necessary and the action of chemicals capable of inducing astrocytic-to-neuronal transition.