Regulation of the growth and development of sympathetic neurons in vivo

The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) in the neonatal mouse and rat has been employed as a model system to study the regulation of ontogeny of presynaptic cholinergic nerves and postsynaptic adrenergic neurons. During postnatal development presynaptic choline acetyltransferase (ChAc) activity increases 30- to 40-fold, whereas postsynaptic tyrosine hydroxylase (T-OH) activity rises 6- to 8-fold. Transection of the presynaptic cholinergic nerves innervating the SCG prevents the normal development of T-OH activity and the normal accumulation of T-OH enzyme molecules in each postsynaptic neuron. The trans-synaptic regulation of T-OH development is apparently mediated by acetylcholine and postsynaptic depolarization, since pharmacologic ganglionic blockade also prevents normal maturation. Ganglion decentralization also prevents the normal maturation of adrenergic nerve terminals, and the development of end-organ innervation by SCG. Consequently, trans-synaptic factors regulate the ontogeny of adrenergic terminals as well as perikarya. Moreover, normal efferent as well as afferent connections are apparently required for sympathetic development, since removal of salivary glands and orbital contents, target organs of the SCG, in neonates also prevents T-OH development in the ganglia. The postsynaptic neuron contributes to the development of presynaptic cholinergic fibers in SCG. Selective destruction of adrenergic neurons in neonatal mice with either 6-hydroxydopamine or antiserum to nerve growth factor prevents the normal maturation of ChAc activity in presynaptic terminals of SCG. Thus, presynaptic and postsynaptic cells appear to exert reciprocal regulatory influences during ontogeny.