Pax-3 regulates neurogenesis in neural crest-derived precursor cells

✍ Scribed by Simon A. Koblar; Mark Murphy; Graham L. Barrett; Alan Underhill; Philippe Gros; Perry F. Bartlett

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1999
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 405 KB
• Volume: 56
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0360-4012
• DOI: 10.1002/(sici)1097-4547(19990601)56:5<518::aid-jnr7>3.0.co;2-8

✦ Synopsis

The peripheral nervous system consists of multiple neural lineages derived from the neural crest (NC). Pax-3 is expressed in the NC and when mutated in the splotch mouse (Sp) results in the loss of derivatives from this precursor cell population. We have investigated the role of Pax-3 in regulating the generation of neurons from NC-derived precursor cells in vitro. Pax-3 mRNA in NC cultures is initially expressed in all NC but is subsequently only retained in neurons, suggesting a role in their generation. To determine whether Pax-3 is involved in neuron development, we first examined the generation of sensory-like neurons in NC cultures from Sp mice. Fivefold less sensory-like neurons were generated in NC cultures from Sp homozygous mice as compared to wild-type littermates. The role of Pax-3 in sensory neuron generation was then directly examined in dorsal root ganglia cultures by down-regulating the expression of Pax-3 protein with antisense oligonulceotides. It was found that antisense oligonulceotides inhibited 80-90% of newly generated sensory neurons; however, there was no significant effect on the survival of sensory neurons or the precursor population. These results suggest that Pax-3 has a role in regulating the differentiation of peripheral neurons.