Abstract
Boundary cap (BC) cells are neural crest derivatives that form clusters at the surface of the neural tube, at entry and exit points of peripheral nerve roots. Using various knock-in alleles of the mouse gene Egr2 (also known as Krox20), the expression of which, in trunk regions, is initially restricted to BC cells, we were able to trace BC cell progeny during development and analyze their fate. Trunk BC-derived cells migrated along peripheral axons and colonized spinal nerve roots and dorsal root ganglia (DRG). All Schwann cell precursors occupying the dorsal roots were derived from BC cells. In the DRG, BC-derived cells were the progenitors of both neurons, mainly nociceptive afferents, and satellite cells. These data indicate that BC cells constitute a source of peripheral nervous system (PNS) components that, after the major neural crest ventrolateral migratory stream, feeds a secondary wave of migration to the PNS.
Publication types
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Comparative Study
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Age Factors
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Animals
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Animals, Newborn
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Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide / metabolism
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Cell Differentiation
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Cell Division
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Cell Movement / genetics
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Chick Embryo
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DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics
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DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
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Early Growth Response Protein 2
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Embryo, Mammalian
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Ganglia, Spinal / cytology
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / physiology
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Glycoproteins / metabolism
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Immunohistochemistry / methods
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In Situ Hybridization / methods
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Luminescent Proteins / genetics
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Luminescent Proteins / metabolism
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Male
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Mice
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Mice, Inbred C57BL
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Mice, Transgenic
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Neural Crest / cytology*
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Neural Crest / physiology
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Neuroglia / physiology*
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Neurons / classification
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Neurons / physiology*
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Peripheral Nervous System / cytology*
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Peripheral Nervous System / embryology
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Peripheral Nervous System / growth & development
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Receptor, ErbB-3 / metabolism
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Receptor, trkA / metabolism
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transcription Factors / metabolism*
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Tubulin / metabolism
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beta-Galactosidase / metabolism
Substances
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Early Growth Response Protein 2
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Egr2 protein, mouse
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Glycoproteins
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Luminescent Proteins
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Nuclear Proteins
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Transcription Factors
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Tubulin
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isolectin B4-binding glycoprotein, mouse
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Green Fluorescent Proteins
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Receptor, ErbB-3
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Receptor, trkA
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beta-Galactosidase
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Calcitonin Gene-Related Peptide