EPO enhances neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells in vitro [7,8], EPO-receptor deficient mice display reduced embryonic neurogenesis [7,9], mice with a brain-specific knock-down of the EPO receptor show a decrease in stroke-induced neurogenesis and migration [9], and exogenously added EPO enhances neurogenesis and behavioural outcome after injury models in vivo [10,11]. This evidence concerns the gene EPO and stroke disorder.