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