AbstractLysophosphatidic acid (LPA) elicits diverse cellular responses through cell surface LPA receptors in nervous system‐derived cells and cell lines. The developing nervous system is one of the major loci for LPA receptor expression. Recent studies have also revealed that metabolic pathways of LPA are present in the nervous system. A growing body of literature suggests a crucial role for LPA in neuronal development processes, including neurogenesis, neuronal migration, neuritogenesis, and myelination. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.