Fig. 4.

foxd3 loss-of-function does not affect the number of melanoblasts specified from kit^w34 neural crest. A,B) mitfa expression is detected in the head and anterior trunk of kit^w34 21hpf embryos. This pattern is not dramatically altered in kit^w34 foxd3 morphants. C, D) In 25 hpf kit^w34 embryos, dopachrome tautomerase (dct) positive cells are found caudal to the eye and ear (red arrow), and in streams migrating ventrally between somites from the dorsal trunk (black arrows). kit^w34 foxd3 morphants show some differences in migration (compare C and D, black arrows) but the overall number of cells appears similar. E, F) 28hpf AB and kit^w34 embryos, processed by in situ hybridization for foxd3 message. foxd3 expression appears unchanged by kit loss-of-function. e; developing ear or otic vesicle G, H) 25hpf AB and kit^w34 embryos, processed by fluorescent in situ hybridization for sox10 message. sox10 expression in premigratory neural crest cells is mostly unchanged (white arrows), although there is some reduction in peripheral expression, consistent with the reduction in melanoblast migration observed in kit^w34 mutants.