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Visceral motor neuron diversity delineates a cellular basis for nipple- and pilo-erection muscle control
Alessandro Furlan1, Gioele La Manno1, Moritz Lbke1, Martin Hring1, Hind Abdo1, Hannah Hochgerner1, Jussi Kupari2, Dmitry Usoskin1, Matti S Airaksinen2, Guillermo Oliver3, Sten Linnarsson1 & Patrik Ernfors1
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 varietyof 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 systeminto discrete outflow channels that project to well-defined target tissues and offer mechanistic insight into how diversity and connectivity are established during development.
2016Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
2016Nature America, Inc. All rights reserved.
The visceral (or autonomic) motor system controls involuntary functions that are regulated by the activity of smooth muscle fibers, cardiac muscle fibers and glands. The two major divisions include the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems. The control of both divisions is modulated by inputs from the hypothalamus to preganglionic neurons in the brainstem and spinal cord, which in turn determine the activity of the primary visceral motor neurons in autonomic ganglia. This circuit allows the maintenance of physiological balance of bodily functions and it is critically involved in regulating our daily living activities, such as exercise, standing up, meal ingestion adjustments, thermal regulation and more1,2. Although these divisions are active all the time at some level, the appearance of a stressor results in an increased activity of the sympathetic system, which mobilizes the fight or flight response1,2.
The autonomic system3 has long been considered to be largely nonspecific, as formulated in the Selyes doctrine of nonspecificity, defining that elements involved in autonomic responses are shared regardless of the nature of the demand or stressor4. However, more recent studies have...