Abstract
This review summarizes the current understanding of neurotransmitter phenotype specification of postganglionic sympathetic neurons, focusing, in particular, on the cellular processes of induction versus trans-differentiation. The emerging evidence is discussed that the noradrenergic and cholinergic neurotransmitter phenotypes are co-induced during early development and that the mature phenotypes develop by positive and negative selection of cellular properties in initially bimodal neurons, depending on extracellular signals during migration and after target contact.
MeSH terms
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Adrenergic Fibers / metabolism
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Animals
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Cell Transdifferentiation
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Chick Embryo
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Cholinergic Fibers / metabolism
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Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / physiology
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Mice, Neurologic Mutants
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Models, Neurological
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Multipotent Stem Cells / cytology
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Multipotent Stem Cells / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / biosynthesis
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics
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Neural Crest / cytology
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Neural Crest / metabolism
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Neurogenesis
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Neurons / cytology
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Neurons / metabolism*
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Neurotransmitter Agents / biosynthesis*
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Neurotransmitter Agents / genetics
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Phenotype
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / deficiency
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / genetics
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret / physiology
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Signal Transduction
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Sympathetic Nervous System / cytology*
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Sympathetic Nervous System / embryology
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Transcription Factors / physiology
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Transcription, Genetic
Substances
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Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Neurotransmitter Agents
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Transcription Factors
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Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret
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Ret protein, mouse