Neurotrophins and the Neural Crest

This timely book correlates in vitro data with results obtained from knock-out mice with targeted neurotrophin or receptor deletions, with the goal of determining the fidelity and usefulness of various experimental culture systems. It also covers embryonic expression patterns and functions of neurotrophins and their receptors. Chapters are organized to begin with neural crest-derived tissues as sources for experimental material, including sensory neurons, sympathetic neurons, enteric neurons, melanocytes, and calcitonin-producing cells from the thyroid, and concludes with discussions of the neural crest cells. TOC:Early Reactions of Neurotrophic Factors.- Neurotrophin-3 and Development of the Neural Crest-Derived Nervous System.- Nerve Growth Factor and the Low Affinity Neurotrophin Receptor.- The Role of Nerve Growth Factor and Other Neurotrophins in the Formation and Early Development of Avian Sensory Dorsal Root Ganglia.- Neurotrophins in the Skin.- Role of Neurotrophins in the Development of Sensory Neurons.- Growth and Neurotrophic Factors in Sympathetic Neuron Development.- Neurons in Enteric Nervous System Development.- Neuronal Differentiation of Cranial Crest-Derived Thyroid C-Cells.- Multiple Roles of Neurotrophins in Early Neural Development.- Multiple Neurotrophin Actions During Early Neural Crest Cell Development.- Index.