title: Progenitor cells with the capacity to differentiate into sympathetic-like neurons are transiently detected in mammalian embryonic dorsal root ganglia.
abstract: We have identified a population of progenitor cells in embryonic dorsal root ganglia (DRG) of the mouse. These cells can be induced into proliferating and differentiating into neurons that display multiple characteristics of the sympathetic lineage by a brief exposure to a defined medium. The sympathetic neuronal characteristics include immunoreactivity for the transcription factors MASH-1 and Phox2a and for the neurotransmitter markers tyrosine hydroxylase, choline acetyltransferase, and NPY. The progenitor cells are detected in DRG from embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) to E15. An identical time course is observed in primary cultures of neural crest, suggesting that the competency of these cells is intrinsically regulated. We also present evidence that the environment of the sensory ganglion, unlike that of a sympathetic ganglion, prevents these cells from differentiating into neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Structure and Function, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon 97201, USA.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Paulsen
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D048429:Cell Size; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian; D005727:Ganglia, Spinal / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D005728:Ganglia, Sympathetic / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; D009419:Nerve Tissue Proteins; C491060:Phox2a protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors