[Control of migration and differentiation of neural crest cells by the extracellular matrix]

Neural crest cells give rise to various essential tissues in vertebrates. Among these are the teeth, the ganglia of the peripheral nervous system, endocrine cells and pigment cells. Neural crest cells are actively migrating cells, but their migration needs to be stimulated by an appropriate extracellular matrix (ECM). In the present article the role of the epidermis and subepidermal ECM during the migration of neural crest cells and their differentiation into pigment cells in amphibian embryos will be considered. Furthermore, a new microcarrier technique will be presented with which the influence of natural ECM and various ECM components on the behavior and differentiation of neural crest derivatives can be investigated in amphibian embryos.