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Production of Chick Embryo Extract for the Cultivation of Murine Neural Crest Stem Cells
Published on: November 27, 2010
The neural crest population responding to endothelin-3 in vitro includes multipotent cells
J G Stone1, L I Spirling, M K Richardson
1Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK.
Journal of Cell Science
|July 1, 1997
Summary
Endothelin 3 (EDN3) peptide influences neural crest development by maintaining multipotent precursors, not just melanoblasts. This peptide promotes sustained developmental potential in cultured cells.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Endothelin 3 (EDN3) is crucial for neural crest development.
- EDN3 is a mitogen for quail trunk crest cells.
- Previous studies suggested EDN3 selectively targets melanoblasts.
Purpose of the Study:
- Characterize EDN3-responsive cell types in quail neural crest cultures.
- Investigate the role of EDN3 in neural crest lineage segregation.
- Determine if EDN3 action is selective for melanocytes.
Main Methods:
- In vitro colony assay and clonal analysis.
- Analysis of colony cell types (Schwann cells, melanocytes, adrenergic cells, sensory-like cells).
- Temporal pattern description of lineage segregation.
Main Results:
- EDN3 inhibits differentiation and maintains neural crest precursor potential.
- High replating efficiency observed in EDN3-treated cultures.
- Identified two novel EDN3 cellular targets: a multipotent precursor and a precursor for melanocytes/Schwann cells.
- Data do not support EDN3 selectivity for melanocytes.
Conclusions:
- EDN3 supports broader neural crest cell populations than previously thought.
- EDN3 maintains developmental plasticity in neural crest precursors.
- The role of EDN3 in neural crest development is more complex than selective melanoblast targeting.

