Phox2b controls the development of peripheral chemoreceptors and afferent visceral pathways

摘要: We report that the afferent relays of visceral (cardiovascular, digestive and respiratory) reflexes, differentiate under control paired-like homeobox gene Phox2b: neural crest-derived carotid body, a chemosensor organ, degenerates in homozygous mutants, as do three epibranchial placode-derived sensory ganglia (geniculate, petrosal nodose), while their central target, nucleus solitary tract, which integrates all information, never forms. These data establish Phox2b an unusual 'circuit-specific' transcription factor devoted to formation autonomic reflex pathways. also show heterozygous mutants have altered response hypoxia hypercapnia at birth decreased tyrosine hydroxylase expression chemosensory neurons, thus providing mechanistic insight into congenital hypoventilation syndrome, is associated with mutations PHOX2B.