2009 Lecture 12
Neural Crest Development
Introduction
The neural crest are bilaterally paired strips of cells arising in the ectoderm at the margins of the neural tube. These cells migrate to many different locations and differentiate into many cell types within the embryo. This means that many different systems ([neuron.htm neural], [skin.htm skin], [skin10.htm teeth], [head.htm head], [face.htm face], [heart.htm heart], [endocrine9.htm adrenal glands], [git.htm gastrointestinal tract]) will also have a contribution fron the neural crest cells.
In the body region, neural crest cells also contribute the peripheral nervous system (both neurons and glia) consisting of sensory ganglia (dorsal root ganglia), sympathetic and parasympathetic ganglia and neural plexuses within specific tissues/organs.
In the head region, neural crest cells migrate into the pharyngeal arches (as shown in movie below) forming ectomesenchyme contributing tissues which in the body region are typically derived from mesoderm (cartilage, bone, and connective tissue).
General neural development is also covered in Neural Notes.
Lecture Objectives
- Understand the structures derived from ectoderm.
- Understand the formation of neural folds.
- Identify the initial location of neural crest cells in the trilaminar embryo.
- Identify pathways of neural crest migration throughout the embryo.
- To know the major tissues to which neural crest cells contribute.
- To know how abnormalities in development that result from abnormal neural crest cell migration.
- Understand how neural crest cells contribute to the pharyngeal arches and the head structures they form.
Textbook References
Development Overview
For more detailed coverage of early neural development see [neuron.htm#Development Neural Notes - Development Overview].
Early Development and Neural Derivatives
- bilaminar embryo- hyoblast
- trilaminar embryo - ectoderm layer
- neural plate
- neural groove
- neural tube and neural crest
- cranial expansion of neural tube- central nervous system
- caudal remainder of neural tube- spinal cord
- neural crest
- dorsal root ganglia
- parasympathetic / sympathetic ganglia.
- ectodermal placodes- components of the special senses
- Sensory placodes - otic placode (otocyst), nasal placode, lens placode
Neural Crest Origin
- lateral region of neural plate
- dorsal neural fold->tube
Neural Crest Origin
- 2 main regions
- head (CNS)
- differentiate slightly earlier
- mesencephalic region of neural folds
- body (spinal cord)
- lateral edges of fused neural tube
Neural Crest Generation
Neural Crest - Differentiation
- Begins in cranial region when still neural fold
- In spinal cord from d 22 until d26
- after closure of caudal neuropore
- rostro-caudal gradient of differentiation
Studies using the chicken model demonstrated that they are not a segregated population. Interactions between the neural plate and epidermis can generate neural crest cells, since juxtaposition of these tissues at early stages results in the formation of neural crest cells at the interface.
At cranial levels, neuroepithelial cells can regulate to generate neural crest cells when the endogenous neural folds are removed, probably via interaction of the remaining neural tube with the epidermis.
Progenitor cells in the neural folds are multipotent, having the ability to form multiple ectodermal derivatives, including epidermal, neural crest, and neural tube cells the neural crest is an induced population that arises by interactions between the neural plate and the epidermis.
The competence of the neural plate to respond to inductive interactions changes as a function of embryonic age.
(Text from: Bronner-Fraser M PNAS 1996 Sep 3;93(18):9352-7)
Neural Crest Derivatives
Neural crest progenitor cells migrate throughout the embryo and give rise to many different adult cells.
This Includes: ganglia cranial, dorsal root, sympathetic trunk, celiac, renal, plexus in GIT, glia, schwann cells, melanocytes (skin), and adrenal medulla (chromaffin cells).
In the head region neural crest also gives rise to a number of connective tissue structures.
Neural Crest - Head (see also [head.htm Head Development Notes])
Mesencephalon and caudal Proencephalon
- parasympathetic ganglia CN III
- connective tissue around eye and nerve
- head mesenchyme
- pia and arachnoid mater
- dura from mesoderm
Mesencephalon and Rhombencephalon
- pharayngeal arches
- look at practical notes on neck and head.
- cartilage rudiments (nose, face, middle ear)
- face
- dermis, smooth muscle and fat
- odontoblasts of developing teeth
Rhombencephalon
- C cells of thyroid
- cranial nerve ganglia
- neurons and glia
- parasympathetic of VII, IX, X
- sensory ganglia of V, VII, VIII, IX, X
Neural Crest- Spinal Cord
- peripheral nervous system
- dorsal root ganglia (sensory N)
- parasympathetic ganglia
- sympathetic ganglia
- motoneurons in both ganglia
- all associated glia
Neural Crest Migration
Neural crest at the level of the body have two general migration pathways, defined by the position of the somite: a medial pathway (between the neural tube and the somite) and a lateral pathway (between the somite and the body wall).
Neural crest at the level of the head have a different migration pathway.
(More? [ncrest7.htm Neural Crest Migration] and [../Movies/neural.htm#ncrest Neural Movies])
Key early experiments in understanding the pattern of neural crest migration were carried out by LeDouarin in the 1980's (see Development of the peripheral Nervous system from the neural crest, Ann Rev Cell Biol 4 p375)
These transplantation studies in chicken/quail chimeras utilised the different nucleoli appearance of cells to differentiate different species. Thus transplanation and subsequent histological processing allowed identification of the migration path and final destination of transplanted neural crest cells.
Similar later experiments have now been carried out using the neural crest cells molecularly tagged with (LacZ).
References
Textbooks
- The Developing Human: Clinically Oriented Embryology (8th Edition) by Keith L. Moore and T.V.N Persaud - Moore & Persaud Chapter Chapter 10 The Pharyngeal Apparatus pp201 - 240.
- Larsen’s Human Embryology by GC. Schoenwolf, SB. Bleyl, PR. Brauer and PH. Francis-West - Chapter 12 Development of the Head, the Neck, the Eyes, and the Ears pp349 - 418.
Online Textbooks
- Developmental Biology by Gilbert, Scott F. Sunderland (MA): Sinauer Associates, Inc.; c2000 Figure 1.3. Pharyngeal arches | Table 13.2. Some derivatives of the pharyngeal arches | The Cranial Neural Crest
- Madame Curie Bioscience Database Chapters taken from the Madame Curie Bioscience Database (formerly, Eurekah Bioscience Database) Cranial Neural Crest and Development of the Head Skeleton | Neural Crest Cells and the Community of Plan for Craniofacial Development: Historical Debates and Current Perspectives
Search
- Bookshelf neural crest
- Pubmed neural crest
External Links
Research Labs
- University of Michigan Tosney Lab
- Stowers Institute Kulesa Lab | Trainor Lab
- University College London Mayor Lab
- University of Iowa Cornell Lab
- Washington University in St. Louis, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Heuckeroth Lab
Glossary Links
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Cite this page: Hill, M.A. (2024, June 15) Embryology 2009 Lecture 12. Retrieved from https://embryology.med.unsw.edu.au/embryology/index.php/2009_Lecture_12
- © Dr Mark Hill 2024, UNSW Embryology ISBN: 978 0 7334 2609 4 - UNSW CRICOS Provider Code No. 00098G