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The Effect Of Valproic Acid On Motility And Morphometry Parameters, And Actin And N-Cadherin Distribution In Avian Neural Crest Cells, Leah Christine Fuller

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

All vertebrate species contain a transient ectodermal structure termed the neural crest from which a specific subpopulation of migratory cells, the neural crest cells (NCCs), is derived. Following an epithelial-mesenchymal transition, NCCs actively migrate throughout the developing embryo. Precise temporal and spatial cellular migration is essential for the formation of a diverse array of neural crest derived tissues and structures. Valproic acid (VP A) is a unique anti-convulsant drug that can produce craniofacial and neural tube defects in exposed infants. Alterations of NCC migration, proliferation, and cytoskeletal composition have been proposed as mechanisms of VP A's teratogenicity. To investigate this …