Issue Information

Abstract

Cover: In Duband et al. (http://doi.org/10.1002/cpcb.109), the image shows Phenotypic characterization of neural crest cell cultures after several days in culture with cell lineage markers. (A) Phase contrast overview of a 48-hr neural tube explant, showing, on the left, the dense network of neurites (arrows) emerging out of the ventral side of the neural tube and, on the right, the presence of cells with distinct morphologies and shapes among the neural crest cell population. (B) Detailed views of the main cell types derived from the neural crest outgrowth after 3 or 5 days in culture: Panel 1, large, well spread myofibroblasts; Panel 2, neurons with long neurites sitting on top of neural crest cells; and Panel 3, little, aster-shaped melanoblasts. Note that these cells are often assembled as separate colonies. (C) Immunofluorescence labeling of neural crest-derived cell populations after 3 days in culture with antibodies to Sox-10, HNK-1, α-SMA, βIII-tubulin (Tuj-1), and Mitf revealed by secondary antibodies conjugated to Alexa-488 (green), Cy-3 (red), and Cy-5 (purple in C1-C3 and yellow in C4). Nuclei are visualized with Hoechst staining (blue). Panel 1 shows a group of myofibroblasts characterized by a dense meshwork of α-SMA in their cytoplasm. Most of them do not express Sox-10 in their nuclei and HNK-1 on their surface but a few cells corresponding possibly to myofibroblasts having not yet completed their differentiation process express all three markers together (arrows). Besides myofibroblasts, a few large cells with an astrocyte-like shape and expressing both HNK1 and Sox-10 represent early differentiating glial cells (arrowheads). Panel 2 shows neurons expressing βIII-tubulin but no Sox-10. Panel 3 shows a large group of melanoblasts expressing MITF in their nuclei but no HNK-1. As for myofibroblasts, a few melanoblasts can be seen coexpressing Mitf and HNK-1 (arrows), likely corresponding to early melanoblasts. Panel 4 shows persistent Sox-10 positive, HNK-1 positive undifferentiated neural crest cell progenitors in the outgrowth. Bars in A, B, and C = 100 µm.