Influence and timing of arrival of murine neural crest on pancreatic beta cell development and maturation

► Neural crest cells first enter the pancreatic primordium at the 27 somite stage. ► Neural crest reaches the dorsal pancreas prior to the ventral pancreas. ► In the absence of neural crest, insulin-expressing area is increased. ► Neural crest is required for beta cell maturation. ► Neural crest derivatives directly contact beta and alpha cells by 15.5 dpc.