Abstract
Background: Trunk neural crest cells (TNCC) are representing a model for epithelial to mesenchymal transition, this correlates the importance of studying the migration of these cells to cancer metastasis. Reptiles are unique group of animals being very morphologically diverse and their close position to synapsid leading to mammals. Recently, more publications focused on the migratory behavior of trunk NCC during embryonic development of squamates. Only one colubrid snake has been studied so far regarding the NCC migration. Results: Here we follow the migratory behavior of TNCC with HNK1 in the elapid snake Naja h. haje from early stage to 14 days postoviposition. Comparing the colubrid snake with the Egyptian cobra showed that both snakes overall follow the same TNCC migratory pathways of both birds and mammals by following the rostral and avoiding the caudal portions of the somites. Conclusions: First, TNCC intra-somitic migration as observed in turtles supports a contributing role for TNCC to scale precursors. Second, our observation of significant numbers of migrating TNCC in the intersomitic pathway suggest interesting evolutionary differences. Together, our present results of the Egyptian cobra in combination with those on a colubrid and turtle supports intersomitic TNCC as a unique reptile phenomena.
Early Development of The Trunk Neural Crest Cells in the Egyptian Cobra Naja H. Haje