Neural Crest Cells and Muscle Development in the Head
Author Information
Author(s): Julien Grenier, Marie-Aimée Teillet, Raphaëlle Grifone, Robert G. Kelly, Delphine Duprez
Primary Institution: CNRS, UMR 7622 Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire du Développement, Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris, France
Hypothesis
How do neural crest cells interact with cranial mesoderm during head muscle development?
Conclusion
Neural crest cells and muscle progenitor cells are more mixed during head muscle development than previously thought.
Supporting Evidence
- Neural crest cells were found to migrate into the mesoderm containing muscle precursor cells.
- All forming tendons associated with head muscles are of neural crest origin.
- Muscles are not necessary for the initiation of tendon formation but are required for further tendon development.
Takeaway
This study shows that cells that help form the head muscles and those that form tendons are more intertwined than we thought, which is important for understanding how our faces develop.
Methodology
The study used quail/chick chimeras and molecular markers to investigate the relationship between neural crest cells and muscle precursor cells.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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