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Epibranchial placode‐derived neurons produce BDNF required for early sensory neuron development
Author(s) -
Harlow Danielle E.,
Yang Hui,
Williams Trevor,
Barlow Linda A.
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
developmental dynamics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.634
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1097-0177
pISSN - 1058-8388
DOI - 10.1002/dvdy.22527
Subject(s) - biology , hindbrain , neural crest , neuroscience , neuron , sensory neuron , sensory system , rhombomere , anatomy , microbiology and biotechnology , central nervous system , embryo , gene expression , hox gene , biochemistry , gene
In mice, BDNF provided by the developing taste epithelium is required for gustatory neuron survival following target innervation. However, we find that expression of BDNF, as detected by BDNF‐driven β‐galactosidase, begins in the cranial ganglia before its expression in the central (hindbrain) or peripheral (taste papillae) targets of these sensory neurons, and before gustatory ganglion cells innervate either target. To test early BDNF function, we examined the ganglia of bdnf null mice before target innervation, and found that while initial neuron survival is unaltered, early neuron development is disrupted. In addition, fate mapping analysis in mice demonstrates that murine cranial ganglia arise from two embryonic populations, i.e., epibranchial placodes and neural crest, as has been described for these ganglia in non‐mammalian vertebrates. Only placodal neurons produce BDNF, however, which indicates that prior to innervation, early ganglionic BDNF produced by placode‐derived cells promotes gustatory neuron development. Developmental Dynamics 240:309–323, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.