Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

Neurogenic placodes are specialized regions of the embryonic ectoderm that generate the majority of the neurons of the cranial sensory ganglia. Here we have accurately determined the onset of neurogenesis in each of the placodes in the chick, and we have also analyzed the expression profiles of genes that are believed to be involved in determining the types of sensory neurons produced by each placode. Interestingly, we find that there is a major difference in the expression domains of neurogenin-1 and neurogenin-2 in the chick, when compared with those reported for the mouse. We do find, however, that Brn-3a and Phox-2a and Phox-2b which are also associated with the specification of neuronal type are expressed in the same domains in the chick as they are in the mouse. These results suggest that neurogenin-1 and neurogenin-2 are functionally interchangeable in neurogenic placodes. We have also found major differences between the ophthalmic and maxillomandibular trigeminal placodes, and while all of the other placodes generate mitotically active cells the ophthalmic trigeminal placode seems to throw off postmitotic neuronal cells.

Type

Journal article

Journal

Mol Cell Neurosci

Publication Date

11/2002

Volume

21

Pages

502 - 511

Keywords

Animals, Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors, Body Patterning, Cell Differentiation, Cell Division, Cell Movement, Chick Embryo, Cranial Nerves, DNA-Binding Proteins, Ectoderm, Ganglia, Sensory, Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental, Homeodomain Proteins, Immunohistochemistry, Nerve Tissue Proteins, Neurons, Afferent, Stem Cells, Transcription Factor Brn-3C, Transcription Factors