Cell and Tissue Journal

Abstract Aim: we aimed at presenting a simple and efficient method for isolating and characterizing the neural crest cells.
Material and Methods: The hen’s fertilized eggs were incubated for about 35h at 38°c and 55-60% humidity until the embryos reached to stages 10-12 according to Hamburger-Hamilton developmental stage table. Then the embryos were removed from the egg’s yolk and the neural tube was isolated and cultured for 24 h in a tissue culture dish to release neural crest cell. Then after, the neural tube was removed and allowed to NCC to expand for further 5 days. Finally, the cells were collected and subjected to PCR to study their gene expression profile.
Results: The neural tube released NCC and these cells proliferated in culture condition. They also expressed markers including Slug, Sox9 ,and Sox10 by the RT-PCR method.
Conclusion: The neural tube can release NCC in culture condition and these cells can proliferate in the presence of an appropriate medium.