Raible Lab
Department of Biological Structure
University of Washington
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Raible Lab
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Neural crest cells migrate away from the dorsal neural tube
throughout the body, where they differentiate into a variety of cell
types including neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system,
craniaofacial cartilage and bone, and pigment cells. We are
interested in how neural crest cells are initially formed, and how they
become specified
to follow different fates. We have identified mutants such as nacre that are missing specific
neural crest derivatives. |
 Neural crest-derived melanophores are lost in nacre embryos, while retinal pigmentation is normal |
 Transverse section through the head showing placode lateral to the neural tube |
Neurogenic Placodes Neurogenic placodes are ectodermal thickenings in non-neural ectoderm from which cells delaminate and coalesce to form cranial sensory ganglia. We are interested in what signals induce placode formation, and how placode-derived neurons acquire cell type specific characteristics. |
Lateral Line The lateral line is a placode-derived structure used by acquatic vertebrates to detect water flow. It consists of groups of mechanosensory hair cells clustered into neuromasts on the surface of the animal. We are interested in how neuromasts are initially positioned in the head and body, and how new neuromasts are formed as the animal grows. |
 A 5-day old living zebrafish stained witht he vital dye DASPEI. Each greenish dot is a neuromast. |
 A single neuromast stained with DASPEI dye shows the rosette of approximately 10 hair cells |
Sensory Hair Cell Death and Regeneration Zebrafish mechanosensory hair cells are susceptible to environmental insult resulting in death, just as are those in the mammalian inner ear. We are using the genetics of the zebrafish to identify modifiers of hair cell death. In addition, we are studying how new hair cells regenerate after damage. |
Sensory Neuron Development Dorsal root ganglia neurons convey sensory information from the periphery to the CNS. DRG neurons are derived from neural crest cells. We are using the genetics of the zebrafish to identify genes that regulate DRG formation. In addition, we are studying how new neurons are derived from latent precursors in adult animals. |
 Tail dorsal root ganglia stained with anti-Hu (red) in neurod:GFP (green) transgenic animal |