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. 2014 Jul 22;12(7):e1001912. doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001912

Figure 5. Lineage tracing using Wnt1-Cre shows SC does not originate from neural crest cells.

Figure 5

(A) Outcome of a genetic cross between a Wnt1-Cre mouse and the ROSA26R-mtmG (mTmG) Cre reporter mouse. Wnt1 is an early developmental marker for neural crest cells. CRE-mediated recombination indelibly labels neural crest-derived cells with GFP fluorescence in a backdrop of red fluorescent cells that are not of neural crest origin. TM, trabecular meshwork. (B) SC does not originate from neural crest cells. (Top) The tissues enveloping and adjacent to SC in Wnt1-Cre mtmG mouse. These tissues include corneoscleral tissue and TM. These tissue express GFP and are thus of neural crest origin. (Middle) Adult SC lacks GFP expression but expresses tdTomato, indicating that it is not derived from neural crest. VECAD labeling, shape, and location were used to identify SC (see Figure S7). A blood vessel connecting to the SC is also red fluorescent, showing BECs are not neural crest derived, as is true for all limbal vasculature (not shown). (Bottom) A merge of the top two panels. Scale bar, 100 µm.