title: Disruption of segmental neural crest migration and ephrin expression in delta-1 null mice.
abstract: Neural crest cells migrate segmentally through the rostral half of each trunk somite due to inhibitory influences of ephrins and other molecules present in the caudal-half of somites. To examine the potential role of Notch/Delta signaling in establishing the segmental distribution of ephrins, we examined neural crest migration and ephrin expression in Delta-1 mutant mice. Using Sox-10 as a marker, we noted that neural crest cells moved through both rostral and caudal halves of the somites in mutants, consistent with the finding that ephrinB2 levels are significantly reduced in the caudal-half somites. Later, mutant embryos had aberrantly fused and/or reduced dorsal root and sympathetic ganglia, with a marked diminution in peripheral glia. These results show that Delta-1 is essential for proper migration and differentiation of neural crest cells. Interestingly, absence of Delta-1 leads to diminution of both neurons and glia in peripheral ganglia, suggesting a general depletion of the ganglion precursor pool in mutant mice.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Molekularbiologie OE5250, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Carl-Neuberg-Strasse 1, D-30625, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: De Bellard
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ching
authors.forename: Achim
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gossler
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bronner-Fraser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000235:genetics*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D036388:Ephrin-B2; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D009457:Neuroglia / Q000378:metabolism; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D036183:Receptor, EphB2; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D036388:Ephrin-B2; D006609:High Mobility Group Proteins; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D051880:Receptors, Notch; D055757:SOXE Transcription Factors; C527924:Sox10 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; C064045:delta protein; D020794:Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D036183:Receptor, EphB2