title: Growth and neurotrophic factors regulating development and maintenance of sympathetic preganglionic neurons.
abstract: The functional anatomy of sympathetic preganglionic neurons is described at molecular, cellular, and system levels. Preganglionic sympathetic neurons located in the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord connect the central nervous system with peripheral sympathetic ganglia and chromaffin cells inside and outside the adrenal gland. Current knowledge is reviewed of the development of these neurons, which share their origin with progenitor cells, giving rise to somatic motoneurons in the ventral horn. Their connectivities, transmitters involved, and growth factor receptors are described. Finally, we review the distribution and functions of trophic molecules that may have relevance for development and maintenance of preganglionic sympathetic neurons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuroanatomy and Interdisciplinary Center for Neuroscience, University of Heidelberg, Germany.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schober
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Unsicker
mesh_terms: D000311:Adrenal Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001339:Autonomic Fibers, Preganglionic / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology; D015415:Biomarkers; D007031:Hypothalamus / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008526:Medulla Oblongata / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D009474:Neurons / Q000502:physiology*; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors; D017475:Receptors, Nerve Growth Factor