Background: The neural crest is a group of multipotent cells that give rise to a wide variety of cells, especially portion of the peripheral nervous system. Neural crest cells show evolutionary conserved fate restrictions based on their axial level of origin: cranial, vagal, trunk and sacral. While much is known about these cells in mammals, birds, amphibians, and fish, relatively little is known in other types of amniotes such as snakes, lizards and turtles. We attempt here to provide a more detailed description of the early phase of trunk NCC development in turtle embryos. Results: In this study, we show, for the first time, migrating trunk NCC in the pharyngula embryo of Trachemys scripta by vital-labeling the NCC with DiI and through immunofluorescence. We found that A) tNCC form a line along the sides of the trunk NT. B) The presence of late migrating tNCC on the medial portion of the somite. C) The presence of lateral mesodermal migrating tNCC in pharyngula embryos. D) That turtle embryos have large/thick peripheral nerves. Conclusions: The similarities and differences in trunk NCC migration and early PNS development that we observe across sauropsids (birds, snake, gecko and turtle) suggests that these species evolved some distinct NCC pathways.

A computational model of metabolic rates and coenzyme binding dynamics was developed to determine biochemical responses to infrared light. The results will facilitate understanding of the effects of infrared light on cellular metabolism.

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Imaging of three-dimensional (3D) tumor scaffolds, engineered or naturally-derived tissue architectures, provides spatial, molecular, and phenotypic information for the extracellular environment and cells. Traditional optical techniques used to image two-dimensional cell cultures rely on light transmission through the sample. However, absorption and scattering by 3D tumor scaffolds impede light transmission. Appropriate sample preparation such as tissue clearing can reduce scattering and improve imaging depth. Epi-illumination, an imaging technique in which light is collected in the backward direction, combined with microscopy techniques with optical sectioning, such as multiphoton fluorescence, allow imaging of scaffolds with high 3D spatial resolution. Optical microscopy can evaluate fluorescent probes targeted to a specific area or molecule of interest, autofluorescent properties of cells and the extracellular matrix, and additional tissue properties such as light scattering or absorption. In addition to optical imaging, MRI can be used to image 3D tumor scaffolds for applications requiring imaging depths beyond optical limits. MRI of implanted tumor scaffolds provide assessment of microenvironment factors including tumor vascularization, pH, and hypoxia. Quantitative analysis of images provides spatial and heterogeneity information of both the extracellular matrix and cellular components of 3D tumor scaffolds to reveal insights into the tumor microenvironment.