FUNCTION OF ENDOTHELIN FAMILY IN NEURAL CREST DEVELOPMENT--AN IN VITRO SYSTEM

为了确定EDN3如何在神经嵴黑素细胞中起作用， 发展，我们正在确定如何外源性添加EDN3改变 体外黑素细胞的时间、数量、存活和形态 我们开发的系统。 为了让黑素细胞分化 在我们的体外系统中，必须添加包括TPA在内的几种物质 到文化。 我们已经发现EDN3可以成功地取代TPA 在这个系统中。 我们目前正在调查是否有相关的家庭成员 (EDN1或EDN2）可以在该测定中替代EDN3。 我们也 确定EDN3的作用是否取决于其存在， 受体EDNRB的神经嵴细胞，使用花斑小鼠作为供体， 神经嵴培养物 此外，我们正在探索神经是否 从斑点突变（花斑，致命斑点， 等等）。可以通过这个系统进行补充。

In order to determine how EDN3 acts in neural crest melanocyte development, we are determining how exogenously added EDN3 alters the timing, number, survival and morphology of melanocytes in an in vitro system that we have developed. In order for melanocytes to differentiate in our in vitro system, several substances including TPA must be added to the cultures. We have found that EDN3 can successfully replace TPA in this system. We are currently exploring if related family members (EDN1 or EDN2) can substitute for EDN3 in this assay. We are also determining if the effect of EDN3 is dependent upon the presence of its receptor EDNRB on neural crest cells by using piebald mice as donors for the neural crest cultures. In addition, we are exploring whether neural crest obtained from the spotting mutations (piebald, lethal spotting, etc.) can be complemented using this system.