Cranial neural crest cells form the pharyngeal arches

Click on image to play QuickTime movie (8.7 MB).

wtfliH2A.mov

Zebrafish embryo, from 12 hr. (6-somite stage) to 38 hours, expressing H2A::GFP and fli1-GFP.

The movie shows a lateral view of the pharyngeal region, anterior is to the left and dorsal is up. At the beginning of the movie, the nuclei of cranial neural crest cells can be seen migrating in three streams, two anterior and one posterior to the developing otic vesicle. As crest cells arrive ventrally fli1-GFP expression initiates and the shape of the pharyngeal arches can be seen. As the arches develop the five branchial arches succesively bud off from the back arch mass.