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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

Dissection, Culture and Analysis of Primary Cranial Neural Crest Cells from Mouse for the Study of Neural Crest Cell Delamination and Migration
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Dissection, Culture and Analysis of Primary Cranial Neural Crest Cells from Mouse for the Study of Neural Crest Cell Delamination and Migration

Published on: October 3, 2019

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Relationship between neural crest cell specification and rare ocular diseases

Monica Akula1, Jeong Won Park1, Judith A West-Mays1

  • 1Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.

Journal of Neuroscience Research
|April 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Neural crest cells are crucial for eye development, forming the periocular mesenchyme (POM). Genes like PITX2 and PAX6 regulate POM development, and their defects cause rare ocular diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Developmental biology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Eye development involves complex interactions between the optic cup and periocular mesenchyme (POM).
  • The POM originates from neural crest-derived progenitor cells, contributing to key ocular structures.
  • Proper formation of the anterior segment and optic cup relies on precise cellular processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the roles of specific genes in periocular mesenchyme (POM) development.
  • To elucidate how genetic mutations in POM development lead to rare ocular diseases.
  • To highlight the significance of neural crest cell migration and specification in ocular morphogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of genes involved in neural crest cell development and eye morphogenesis.
  • Analysis of genetic pathways regulating periocular mesenchyme (POM) specification and migration.
  • Correlation of gene mutations with observed phenotypes in rare ocular disorders.

Main Results:

  • Identified key genes including PITX2, PITX3, FOXC1, FOXE3, PAX6, LMX1B, GPR48, TFAP2A, and TFAP2B in POM development.
  • Detailed the function of these genes in neural crest cell migration and ocular tissue formation.
  • Established links between defects in these genes and the etiology of various rare eye diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Specific genes play critical roles in periocular mesenchyme (POM) development, essential for normal eye formation.
  • Mutations in these genes are directly implicated in the pathogenesis of rare ocular diseases.
  • Understanding these genetic mechanisms offers insights into developmental ophthalmology and potential therapeutic targets.
Keywords:
animal modelsanterior segment dysgenesisdevelopmentgeneticsneural crestocular disease

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