Cephalic NCCs migrate chemotactically to a concentration gradient of Shh morphogen.
Expression of Shh at optic vesicle and Ptch–Smo on NCCs integrate the guide system.
Molecular and pharmacological blocking inhibits oriented migration of cephalic NCC.
Shh-dependent chemotaxis of NCCs was altered by in vitro-in vivo ethanol exposure.
Results support a guiding activity for Shh in addition to its other canonic functions.