Visceral Motor Neuron Diversity Delineates a Cellular Basis for Nipple- and Pilo-erection Muscle Control

Overview

Journal Nat Neurosci

Date 2016 Aug 30

PMID 27571008

Citations 57

Authors

Alessandro Furlan

Gioele La Manno

Moritz Lubke

Martin Haring

Hind Abdo

Hannah Hochgerner

Jussi Kupari

Dmitry Usoskin

Matti S Airaksinen

Guillermo Oliver

Sten Linnarsson

Patrik Ernfors

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Despite the variety of physiological and target-related functions, little is known regarding the cellular complexity in the sympathetic ganglion. We explored the heterogeneity of mouse stellate and thoracic ganglia and found an unexpected variety of cell types. We identified specialized populations of nipple- and pilo-erector muscle neurons. These neurons extended axonal projections and were born among other neurons during embryogenesis, but remained unspecialized until target organogenesis occurred postnatally. Target innervation and cell-type specification was coordinated by an intricate acquisition of unique combinations of growth factor receptors and the initiation of expression of concomitant ligands by the nascent erector muscles. Overall, our results provide compelling evidence for a highly sophisticated organization of the sympathetic nervous system into discrete outflow channels that project to well-defined target tissues and offer mechanistic insight into how diversity and connectivity are established during development.

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