Quail neural crest cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus can be established into differentiating permanent cell cultures.

Quail neural crest cells derived from the truncal neural primordium, infected in vitro by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) in January 1978, were induced to multiply and have been established into permanent cultures. These cultures contain cells that differentiate into melanocytes, neuron-like cells and flat cells. About 50% of these different cell types are tetanus-toxin positive. Electrophysiological studies have shown that some cells can generate action potentials similar to those reported in quail neural crest primary cultures. Taken together these data show that the RSV-transformed quail neural crest permanent cultures are composed of stem cells which can differentiate into cell types specific for neural crest.