Segregation and early dispersal of neural crest cells in the embryonic zebrafish

• Published in: Developmental dynamics Vol. 195; no. 1; pp. 29 - 42
• Main Authors: Raible, David W., Wood, Andrew, Hodsdon, Wendy, Henion, Paul D., Weston, James A., Eisen, Judith S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company 01-09-1992; Wiley-Liss
• Subjects: Animals; Basal lamina; Biological and medical sciences; Brachydanio rerio; Cell migration; Cell Movement; Early stages. Segmentation. Gastrulation. Neurulation; Embryology: invertebrates and vertebrates. Teratology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Neural Crest; Peripheral Nerves - embryology; Teleost; Zebrafish - embryology; Freshwater environment; Embryonic development; Cell motility; Vertebrata; Embryo; Pisces; Migration; Brachydanis rerio; Neural crest
• ISSN: 1058-8388; 1097-0177
• DOI: 10.1002/aja.1001950104

We have exploited our ability to visualize and follow individual cells in situ, in the living embryo, to study the development of trunk neural crest in the embryonic zebrafish. In most respects, the development of zebrafish trunk neural crest is similar to the development of trunk neural crest in other species: zebrafish trunk neural crest cells segregate from the dorsal neural keel in a rostrocaudal sequence, migrate ventrally along two pathways, and give rise to neurons of the peripheral nervous system, Schwann cells, and pigment cells. However, some aspects of the development of zebrafish trunk neural crest differ from those of other vertebrates: zebrafish trunk neural crest cells are significantly larger and fewer in number than those in avian embryos and the locations of their migratory pathways are slightly different. This initial description of neural crest development in the zebrafish embryo provides the foundation for future experimental studies. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.