Spinal motor neurons have the longest axons that innervate the skeletal muscles of the central nervous system. Motor neuron diseases caused by spinal motor neuron cell death are incurable due to the unique and irreplaceable nature of their neural circuits. Understanding the mechanisms of neurogenesis, neuritogenesis, and synaptogenesis in motor neurons will allow investigators to develop new in vitro models and regenerative therapies for motor neuron diseases. In particular, small molecules can directly reprogram and convert into neural stem cells and neurons, and promote neuron-like cell differentiation. Prostaglandins are known to have a role in the differentiation and tissue regeneration of several cell types and organs. However, the involvement of prostaglandins in the differentiation of motor neurons from neural stem cells is poorly understood. The general cell line used in research on motor neuron diseases is the mouse neuroblastoma and spinal motor neuron fusion cell line NSC-34. Recently, our laboratory reported that prostaglandin E₂ and prostaglandin D₂ enhanced the conversion of NSC-34 cells into motor neuron-like cells with neurite outgrowth. Moreover, we found that prostaglandin E₂-differentiated NSC-34 cells had physiological and electrophysiological properties of mature motor neurons. In this review article, we provide contemporary evidence on the effects of prostaglandins, particularly prostaglandin E₂ and prostaglandin D₂, on differentiation and neural conversion. We also discuss the potential of prostaglandins as candidates for the development of new therapeutic drugs for motor neuron diseases.

脊髓运动神经元具有最长的轴突，支配中枢神经系统的骨骼肌。由脊髓运动神经元细胞死亡引起的运动神经元疾病由于其神经回路的独特性和不可替代性而无法治愈。了解运动神经元中神经发生、神经发生和突触发生的机制将使研究人员能够开发新的体外模型和运动神经元疾病的再生疗法。特别是小分子可以直接重编程转化为神经干细胞和神经元，促进神经元样细胞分化。已知前列腺素在几种细胞类型和器官的分化和组织再生中起作用。然而，前列腺素参与从神经干细胞分化运动神经元的过程知之甚少。用于运动神经元疾病研究的一般细胞系是小鼠神经母细胞瘤和脊髓运动神经元融合细胞系NSC-34。最近，我们实验室报道了前列腺素E₂和前列腺素 D ₂增强了 NSC-34 细胞向具有神经突生长的运动神经元样细胞的转化。此外，我们发现前列腺素E ₂分化的NSC-34细胞具有成熟运动神经元的生理和电生理特性。_{在这篇综述文章中，我们提供了关于前列腺素，特别是前列腺素 E 2}和前列腺素 D ₂对分化和神经转换的影响的当代证据。我们还讨论了前列腺素作为开发运动神经元疾病新治疗药物候选者的潜力。