Motor innervation directs the correct development of the mouse sympathetic nervous system.

The sympathetic nervous system controls bodily functions including vascular tone, cardiac rhythm, and the "fight-or-flight response". Sympathetic chain ganglia develop in parallel with preganglionic motor nerves extending from the neural tube, raising the question of whether axon targeting contributes to sympathetic chain formation. Using nerve-selective genetic ablations and lineage tracing in mouse, we reveal that motor nerve-associated Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) contribute sympathetic neurons and satellite glia after the initial seeding of sympathetic ganglia by neural crest.

The peripheral nervous system.

The peripheral nervous system (PNS) represents a highly heterogeneous entity with a broad range of functions, ranging from providing communication between the brain and the body to controlling development, stem cell niches and regenerative processes. According to the structure and function, the PNS can be subdivided into sensory, motor (i.e.

Serotonin limits generation of chromaffin cells during adrenal organ development.

Adrenal glands are the major organs releasing catecholamines and regulating our stress response. The mechanisms balancing generation of adrenergic chromaffin cells and protecting against neuroblastoma tumors are still enigmatic. Here we revealed that serotonin (5HT) controls the numbers of chromaffin cells by acting upon their immediate progenitor "bridge" cells via 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 3A (HTR3A), and the aggressive HTR3A human neuroblastoma cell lines reduce proliferation in response to HTR3A-specific agonists.

Developing brain as a source of circulating norepinephrine in rats during the critical period of morphogenesis.

The development of individual organs and the whole organism is under the control by morphogenetic factors over the critical period of morphogenesis. This study was aimed to test our hypothesis that the developing brain operates as an endocrine organ during morphogenesis, in rats during the perinatal period (Ugrumov in Neuro Chem 35:837-850, 2010). Norepinephrine, which is a morphogenetic factor, was used as a marker of the endocrine activity of the developing brain, although it is also secreted by peripheral organs.