The contribution of neural crest cells to the nuchal bone and plastron of the turtle shell

The origin of the turtle plastron is not well understood, and these nine bones have been homologized to the exoskeletal components of the clavicles, the interclavicular bone, and gastralia. Earlier data from our laboratory showed that the plastral bone-forming cells stained positively for HNK-1 and PDGFR alpha, two markers of skeletogenic neural crest cells. We have now shown that the HNK-1(+) cells are also positive for p75 and FoxD3, affirming their neural crest identity. These cells originate from the dorsal neural tube of stage-17 turtle embryos, several days after the original wave of neural crest cells have migrated and differentiated. Moreover, we have demonstrated the existence of a staging area, above the neural tube and vertebrae, where these late-emigrating neural crest cells collect. After residing in the carapacial staging area, these cells migrate to form the plastral bones. We also demonstrate that one bone of the carapace, the nuchal bone, also stains with HNK-1 and with antibodies to PDGFR alpha. The nuchal bone shares several other properties with the plastral bones, suggesting that it, too, is derived from neural crest cells. Alligator gastralia stain for HNK-1, while their ribs do not, thus suggesting that the gastralial precursor may also be derived from neural crest cells.