Anderson Lab ~ Current Projects
1. Evidence for pre-determination and selective projection of sympathetic neurons
It is possible that different types of sympathetic neurons are specified prior to them contacting their target. The correct pattern of adult innervation is then achieved by neurons of the appropriate phenotype navigating to the correct target tissues. We are currently looking for evidence that different classes of sympathetic neurons can be distinguished in the rat and mouse before the neurons extend an axon to their target. The differences may lie in the expression of different transcription factors or neurotrophic factor receptors which can be detected by immunohistochemistry or in transgenic animals with a reporter gene.
Neuronal diversity in the rat stellate ganglion. Immunofluorescence for NPY (green) and ccalbindin (red). Image © CR Anderson
top of page2. Differentiation of glial cells in the sympathetic ganglion
Sympathetic ganglia arise from a pool of neural crest progenitor cells. From this common pool arise two very different types of cell; sympathetic neurons and satellite glia. The neurons differentiate under the influence of BMPs released from the aorta, a signal which the satellite glia precursors present in the ganglion can apparently ignore. We are interested in understanding how satellite glia can adopt a unique identity under circumstances that result in most neural crest cells becoming neurons.