Endothelin 3 promotes neural crest cell proliferation and mediates a vast increase in melanocyte number in culture.
Mutations in the endothelin 3 (EDN3) gene severely affect the development of neural crest-derived melanocytes. In this paper, we report the action of EDN3 on neural crest cells in vitro. The presence of EDN3 leads to a large increase in the number of cells, the majority of which eventually differentiate into melanocytes that aggregate to form a reproducible pigmentation pattern. Quantitative analysis of the effect of different culture conditions revealed that EDN3 initially promotes neural crest cell proliferation. This phase of expansion, which can be prolonged for a few weeks if the cells are replaced regularly, is followed by both a decrease in cell proliferation and the onset of melanocytic differentiation. Therefore, EDN3 is a potent mitogen for early neural crest cell precursors that can give rise to melanocytes.
Lahav
R
R
Institut d'Embryologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Nogent-sur-Marne, France.
Ziller
C
C
Dupin
E
E
Le Douarin
N M
NM
D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002642:Chick Embryo; D003470:Culture Media; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004347:Drug Interactions; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007700:Kinetics; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D011784:Quail; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D019089:Stem Cell Factor / Q000494:pharmacology; D013997:Time Factors; D014020:Tissue Extracts / Q000494:pharmacology
D003470:Culture Media; D016232:Endothelins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D019089:Stem Cell Factor; D014020:Tissue Extracts