Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adrenal chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons both originate from the neural crest, yet signals that trigger chromaffin development remain elusive. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) emanating from the dorsal aorta are important s...

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Main Authors: Halbach Oliver, Schober Andreas, Ernsberger Uwe, Krispin Shlomi, Brühl Barbara, Franke Aylin, Huber Katrin, Rohrer Hermann, Kalcheim Chaya, Unsicker Klaus
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2008-10-01
Series:Neural Development
Online Access:http://www.neuraldevelopment.com/content/3/1/28
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spelling doaj-557fa4bed8a542f5bf45eeb545585eaf2020-11-25T01:49:16ZengBMCNeural Development1749-81042008-10-01312810.1186/1749-8104-3-28Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell developmentHalbach OliverSchober AndreasErnsberger UweKrispin ShlomiBrühl BarbaraFranke AylinHuber KatrinRohrer HermannKalcheim ChayaUnsicker Klaus<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adrenal chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons both originate from the neural crest, yet signals that trigger chromaffin development remain elusive. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) emanating from the dorsal aorta are important signals for the induction of a sympathoadrenal catecholaminergic cell fate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report here that BMP-4 is also expressed by adrenal cortical cells throughout chick embryonic development, suggesting a putative role in chromaffin cell development. Moreover, bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA is expressed by both cortical and chromaffin cells. Inhibiting BMP-4 with noggin prevents the increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in adrenal explants without affecting cell proliferation. Hence, adrenal BMP-4 is likely to induce tyrosine hydroxylase in sympathoadrenal progenitors. To investigate whether persistent BMP-4 exposure is able to induce chromaffin traits in sympathetic ganglia, we locally grafted BMP-4 overexpressing cells next to sympathetic ganglia. Embryonic day 8 chick sympathetic ganglia, in addition to principal neurons, contain about 25% chromaffin-like cells. Ectopic BMP-4 did not increase this proportion, yet numbers and sizes of 'chromaffin' granules were significantly increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BMP-4 may serve to promote specific chromaffin traits, but is not sufficient to convert sympathetic neurons into a chromaffin phenotype.</p> http://www.neuraldevelopment.com/content/3/1/28
collection DOAJ
language English
format Article
sources DOAJ
author Halbach Oliver
Schober Andreas
Ernsberger Uwe
Krispin Shlomi
Brühl Barbara
Franke Aylin
Huber Katrin
Rohrer Hermann
Kalcheim Chaya
Unsicker Klaus
spellingShingle Halbach Oliver
Schober Andreas
Ernsberger Uwe
Krispin Shlomi
Brühl Barbara
Franke Aylin
Huber Katrin
Rohrer Hermann
Kalcheim Chaya
Unsicker Klaus
Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
Neural Development
author_facet Halbach Oliver
Schober Andreas
Ernsberger Uwe
Krispin Shlomi
Brühl Barbara
Franke Aylin
Huber Katrin
Rohrer Hermann
Kalcheim Chaya
Unsicker Klaus
author_sort Halbach Oliver
title Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
title_short Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
title_full Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
title_fullStr Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
title_full_unstemmed Persistent expression of BMP-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
title_sort persistent expression of bmp-4 in embryonic chick adrenal cortical cells and its role in chromaffin cell development
publisher BMC
series Neural Development
issn 1749-8104
publishDate 2008-10-01
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Adrenal chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons both originate from the neural crest, yet signals that trigger chromaffin development remain elusive. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) emanating from the dorsal aorta are important signals for the induction of a sympathoadrenal catecholaminergic cell fate.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We report here that BMP-4 is also expressed by adrenal cortical cells throughout chick embryonic development, suggesting a putative role in chromaffin cell development. Moreover, bone morphogenetic protein receptor IA is expressed by both cortical and chromaffin cells. Inhibiting BMP-4 with noggin prevents the increase in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase positive cells in adrenal explants without affecting cell proliferation. Hence, adrenal BMP-4 is likely to induce tyrosine hydroxylase in sympathoadrenal progenitors. To investigate whether persistent BMP-4 exposure is able to induce chromaffin traits in sympathetic ganglia, we locally grafted BMP-4 overexpressing cells next to sympathetic ganglia. Embryonic day 8 chick sympathetic ganglia, in addition to principal neurons, contain about 25% chromaffin-like cells. Ectopic BMP-4 did not increase this proportion, yet numbers and sizes of 'chromaffin' granules were significantly increased.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>BMP-4 may serve to promote specific chromaffin traits, but is not sufficient to convert sympathetic neurons into a chromaffin phenotype.</p>
url http://www.neuraldevelopment.com/content/3/1/28
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