Target-dependent specification of the neurotransmitter phenotype: cholinergic differentiation of sympathetic neurons is mediated in vivo by gp 130 signaling.
Sympathetic neurons are generated through a succession of differentiation steps that initially lead to noradrenergic neurons innervating different peripheral target tissues. Specific targets, like sweat glands in rodent footpads, induce a change from noradrenergic to cholinergic transmitter phenotype. Here, we show that cytokines acting through the gp 130 receptor are present in sweat glands. Selective elimination of the gp 130 receptor in sympathetic neurons prevents the acquisition of cholinergic and peptidergic features (VAChT, ChT1, VIP) without affecting other properties of sweat gland innervation. The vast majority of cholinergic neurons in the stellate ganglion, generated postnatally, are absent in gp 130-deficient mice. These results demonstrate an essential role of gp 130-signaling in the target-dependent specification of the cholinergic neurotransmitter phenotype.
Stanke
Matthias
M
Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Deutschordenstrasse 46, 60528 Frankfurt/M, Germany.
Duong
Chi Vinh
CV
Pape
Manuela
M
Geissen
Markus
M
Burbach
Guido
G
Deller
Thomas
T
Gascan
Hugues
H
Otto
Christiane
C
Parlato
Rosanna
R
Schütz
Günther
G
Rohrer
Hermann
H
D000320:Adrenergic Fibers / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130 / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D017931:DNA Primers; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D013545:Sweat Glands / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000196:embryology* / Q000294:innervation* / Q000378:metabolism
D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; C494200:Il6st protein, mouse; D050822:Cytokine Receptor gp130