Differential expression of Islet-1 in neural crest-derived ganglia: Islet-1 + dorsal root ganglion cells are post-mitotic and Islet-1 + sympathetic ganglion cells are still cycling

Abstract

The Islet-1 antigen is an early marker of differentiation of neural tube cells, and is expressed in many other embryonic cells as well. It had been reported that Islet-1 is expressed only in post-mitotic sympathetic neuroblasts in vitro, unlike other differentiation markers. We have double-labeled St. 23 chick embryos for bromodeoxyuridine (BrDU) and Islet-1 and found that neural tube and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) cells express Islet-1 after leaving the cell cycle, while sympathetic ganglion (SG) cells express Islet-1 while still dividing.