Islet-1 is a LIM-Homeodomain transcription factor with important functions for the development of distinct neuronal and non-neuronal cell populations. We show here that Islet-1 acts genetically downstream of Phox2B in cells of the sympathoadrenal cell lineage and that the development of sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells is impaired in mouse embryos with a conditional deletion of Islet-1 ...

Developing sympathetic neurons depend on NGF for survival. When sympathetic neurons are deprived of NGF in vitro, a well documented series of events, including c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway activation, release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria, and caspase activation, culminates in the death of the neuron by apoptosis within 24-48 h. This process requires de novo gene expression, su...

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis is critical to maintain homoeothermia and is centrally controlled via sympathetic outputs. Body temperature and BAT activity also impact energy expenditure, and obesity is commonly associated with decreased BAT capacity and sympathetic tone. Severely obese mice that lack leptin or its receptor (LepRb) show decreased BAT capacity, sympathetic tone, and bo...

UNLABELLED Hypertension is associated with impaired nitric oxide (NO)-cyclic nucleotide (CN)-coupled intracellular calcium (Ca(2+)) homeostasis that enhances cardiac sympathetic neurotransmission. Because neuronal membrane Ca(2+) currents are reduced by NO-activated S-nitrosylation, we tested whether CNs affect membrane channel conductance directly in neurons isolated from the stellate ganglia ...

Sympathetic nerve activity to brown adipose tissue (BAT) regulates adipocyte metabolism of its stored lipid fuel and thus the thermogenesis in BAT. To determine if the discharge of neurons in the rostral raphe pallidus (RPa) can influence BAT thermogenesis, changes in sympathetic nerve activity to BAT were recorded after microinjection (60 nl) of the GABAA receptor antagonist bicuculline (500 μ...

Chronically elevated sympathetic nervous activity underlies many cardiovascular diseases. Elucidating the mechanisms contributing to sympathetic nervous system output may reveal new avenues of treatment. The contribution of the gap junctional protein connexin 36 (Cx36) to the regulation of sympathetic activity and thus blood pressure and heart rate was determined using a mouse with specific gen...

Sympathetic axons invade the trigeminal ganglia of mice overexpressing nerve growth factor (NGF) (NGF/p75(+/+) mice) and surround sensory neurons having intense NGF immunolabeling; the growth of these axons appears to be directional and specific (). In this investigation, we provide new insight into the neurochemical features and receptor requirements of this sympathosensory sprouting. Using do...

A longstanding hypothesis is that ion channels are present in the membranes of synaptic vesicles and might affect neurotransmitter release. Here we demonstrate that TRPM7, a member of the transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channel family, resides in the membrane of synaptic vesicles of sympathetic neurons, forms molecular complexes with the synaptic vesicle proteins synapsin I and synaptota...

Neurons in the rostral and caudal parts of the ventrolateral medulla (VLM) play a pivotal role in the regulation of sympathetic vasomotor activity and blood pressure. Studies in several species, including humans, have shown that these regions contain a high density of AT1 receptors specifically associated with neurons that regulate the sympathetic vasomotor outflow, or the secretion of vasopres...