UNSW Embryo- Development of the Nervous System. Selected References Back to Neural Notes page 1 / page 2 Articles | Reviews | Books Links: Page 2 Page 1 PubMed Link About PubMed Note: A Selected List of References for Neural Development from PubMed March 1999. It was too difficult to keep neural development to one page so I have selected a few current Articles below and given a short description of the relevance to specific aspects of neural development. Click on the gene to see key articles.

Notch/Delta- lateral inhibition, very early neural patterning in ectoderm. Sonic Hedgehog- ventralization of the neural tube. (see also: L/R axis, hair) Dorsalin- TGF-beta family protein, dorsalization of the neural tube. Hox- homeobox genes, rostrocaudal determination of the neural tube. see also dlx5. Retinoic Acid- retinoid and its intracellular receptors. CAM- cell adhesion molecules. Wnt- cysteine-rich secreted signals, neural tube expressed, coincident with dorsal patterning.

Reviews Neurulation in the normal human embryo. O'Rahilly R, Muller F Ciba Found Symp 1994;181:70-82; discussion 82-9 The neural groove and folds are first seen during stage 8 (about 18 postovulatory days). Two days later (stage 9) the three main divisions of the brain, which are not cerebral vesicles, can be distinguished while the neural groove is still completely open. Two days later (stage 10) the neural folds begin to fuse near the junction between brain and spinal cord, when neural crest cells are arising mainly from the neural ectoderm. The rostral (or cephalic) neuropore closes within a few hours during stage 11 (about 24 days). The closure is bidirectional; it takes place from the dorsal and terminal lips and may occur in several areas simultaneously. The two lips, however, behave differently. The caudal neuropore takes a day to close during stage 12 (about 26 days) and the level of final closure is approximately at future somitic pair 31, which corresponds to the level of sacral vertebra 2. At stage 13 (4 weeks) the neural tube is normally completely closed. Secondary neurulation, which begins at stage 12, is the differentiation of the caudal part of the neural tube from the caudal eminence (or end-bud) without the intermediate phase of a neural plate. Neurulation: coming to closure. Smith JL, Schoenwolf GCTrends Neurosci 1997 Nov;20(11):510-7 Neurulation is a morphogenetic event par excellence. During this highly choreographed four-dimensional process, a flat sheet of ectoderm is transformed into an elongated tubular rudiment, the neural tube, which exhibits rostro-caudal and mediolateral regionalization. Many tissues interact during neurulation to induce and regionalize the neuroectoderm and to produce the morphogenetic forces that drive neurulation. Such forces are generated by fundamental cell behaviors such as changes in cell shape, position and number. In addition, morphoregulatory molecules expressed during neurulation underlie induction and patterning of the forming neuraxis. Despite recent advances in our understanding of neurulation, neural tube defects continue to be a major health care concern. Further research, utilizing a panoply of approaches, is necessary to resolve this issue. Thus, although we are beginning to come to closure in terms of understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms responsible for normal neural tube formation, coming to closure' is exactly the problem that requires resolution to prevent these devastating birth defects.