Molecular control of ciliary neuron development: BMPs and downstream transcriptional control in the parasympathetic lineage.
The generation of noradrenergic sympathetic neurons is controlled by BMPs and the downstream transcription factors Mash1, Phox2b, Phox2a and dHand. We examined the role of these signals in developing cholinergic parasympathetic neurons. The expression of Mash1 (Cash1), Phox2b and Phox2a in the chick ciliary ganglion is followed by the sequential expression of panneuronal, noradrenergic and cholinergic marker genes. BMPs are expressed at the site where ciliary ganglia form and are essential and sufficient for ciliary neuron development. Unlike sympathetic neurons, ciliary neurons do not express dHand; noradrenergic gene expression is eventually lost but can be maintained by ectopic dHand expression. Together, these results demonstrate a common BMP dependence of sympathetic neurons and parasympathetic ciliary neurons and implicate dHand in the maintenance of noradrenergic gene expression in the autonomic nervous system.
Müller
Frank
F
Max-Planck-Institut für Hirnforschung, Abteilung Neurochemie, Deutschordenstrasse 46, 60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
Rohrer
Hermann
H
D000818:Animals; D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D055417:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D016466:CHO Cells; D019070:Cell Lineage; D002642:Chick Embryo; D002645:Chickens; D002923:Cilia / Q000378:metabolism*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D009474:Neurons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013997:Time Factors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins
D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D055417:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 5; D055419:Bone Morphogenetic Protein 7; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D029961:Zebrafish Proteins; C525826:bmp7a protein, zebrafish; C410915:hand2 protein, zebrafish