Abstract
Axon navigation depends, in part, on guidance cues emanating from the target. We have investigated the possible role of the target in the pathfinding of visceral motor axons to cranial parasympathetic ganglia. Mice homozygous for a tau-LacZ transgene targeted in the Phox2a locus lack the sphenopalatine ganglion, which is the normal target of visceral motor axons of the facial nerve. We found that in these mutants, facial visceral motor axon pathfinding was disrupted, and some axons were misrouted to an alternative parasympathetic ganglion. Moreover, the absence of correct facial visceral motor pathways was concomitant with defects in the pathfinding of rostrally-projecting sympathetic axons.
Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Autonomic Pathways / abnormalities
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Autonomic Pathways / cytology*
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Axons / physiology*
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Axons / ultrastructure
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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Choristoma / embryology
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Choristoma / genetics
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Choristoma / pathology
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DNA-Binding Proteins / biosynthesis
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Face / embryology
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Face / innervation
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Facial Nerve / abnormalities
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Facial Nerve / cytology*
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Ganglia, Parasympathetic / cytology
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Ganglia, Parasympathetic / embryology
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Ganglia, Parasympathetic / metabolism
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Genes, Reporter
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Homeodomain Proteins / genetics
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Mice
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Mice, Knockout
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Motor Neurons / cytology*
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Motor Neurons / metabolism
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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Superior Cervical Ganglion / cytology
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Superior Cervical Ganglion / embryology
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Transcription Factors / biosynthesis
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Transcription Factors / deficiency
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Transcription Factors / genetics
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Transgenes
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Visceral Afferents / cytology*
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Visceral Afferents / embryology
Substances
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Ascl1 protein, mouse
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Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Transcription Factors
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Homeodomain Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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PHOX2A protein, human
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Phox2a protein, mouse
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Transcription Factors