File:Neural crest cell enteric sorting.jpg

Figure 10. Scheme of ENS neuron (red) and ENC (blue) aggregation.. From: Why are enteric ganglia so small? Role of differential adhesion of enteric neurons and enteric neural crest cells.. A. Initially ENC cells and neurons cohere in a disorderly fashion (2–4 h) but gradually the neurons sort out to a central position (18 h), indicating neurons have a greater adhesive bond energy. B. Neurons and ENC cells have adhesive molecules (coloured circles) which are free to move in the cell surface, but the neurons have more adhesive molecules. Cell-cell adhesion requires juxtaposition in trans of two adhesive molecules (red-red, blue-blue or red-blue). To minimise adhesive free energy, adhesive molecules on ENC cells move (pink arrows) in order to form an adhesion, thereby denuding the outer face of adhesion molecules. This insulates the group from further adhesion. Benjamin N. Rollo, et al. F1000Res. 2015;4:113.