Changes in protein kinase C activities are correlated with the metaplastic transformation of Schwann cell precursors of avian embryos into melanocytes

In previous work, we found that the phorbol ester drug 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) reverses the developmental restriction of melanogenesis that occurs early in neural crest development, causing Schwann cell precursors to undergo a metaplastic transformation into melanocytes. In this stu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of neuroscience research Vol. 21; no. 2-4; p. 101
Main Authors Hess, L, Chamberlin, T, Ciment, G
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.10.1988
Subjects
Animals
Cells, Cultured
Embryonic and Fetal Development
Ganglia, Spinal - cytology
Ganglia, Spinal - embryology
Protein Kinase C - metabolism
Quail
Schwann Cells - physiology
Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate - pharmacology
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Summary:In previous work, we found that the phorbol ester drug 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate (TPA) reverses the developmental restriction of melanogenesis that occurs early in neural crest development, causing Schwann cell precursors to undergo a metaplastic transformation into melanocytes. In this study, we examine whether these effects of TPA may be mediated by changes in endogenous levels of protein kinase C (PKC) activities. We report that low levels of PKC activity are correlated with this adventitious pigmentation in the crest-derived cells of dorsal root ganglia both during normal development and following TPA treatment in culture. These results suggest that regulation of endogenous levels of PKC plays a role in developmental decisions that neural crest cells make during early embryogenesis.
ISSN:0360-4012
DOI:10.1002/jnr.490210203