sympathetic neuron axon guidance

Definition

Target type: biologicalprocess

The chemotaxis process that directs the migration of a sympathetic neuron axon growth cone to a specific target site in response to a combination of attractive and repulsive cues. [GOC:BHF, GOC:rl, PMID:22790009]

Sympathetic neuron axon guidance is a complex and intricate process that directs the growth of axons, the long projections of nerve cells, from the sympathetic ganglia, clusters of nerve cell bodies, to their target organs. This process ensures the proper connection of the sympathetic nervous system, which controls various involuntary functions like heart rate, blood pressure, and digestion.

The journey of a sympathetic neuron axon begins in the sympathetic ganglia located along the spinal cord. From here, axons navigate through a complex environment, guided by a series of cues, to reach their target organs, such as the heart, lungs, and blood vessels.

Several key molecular mechanisms contribute to sympathetic neuron axon guidance:

1. **Chemoattraction and Chemorepulsion:** Axons are attracted by specific chemicals (chemoattractants) and repelled by others (chemorepellants) in the environment. These cues are often secreted from target organs, guiding axons towards their destinations.

2. **Axon-Glia Interactions:** Glial cells, non-neuronal cells that support and protect neurons, play a crucial role in axon guidance. Schwann cells, the glial cells of the peripheral nervous system, provide a supportive scaffold for axons and secrete molecules that influence their direction.

3. **Extracellular Matrix Components:** The extracellular matrix (ECM), a network of molecules surrounding cells, provides a structural framework and contains molecules like laminin and collagen that can influence axon growth.

4. **Growth Cone Navigation:** The tip of a growing axon is called a growth cone, and it contains specialized structures called filopodia and lamellipodia, which sense the environment and direct the axon's path. Growth cones use these structures to navigate towards attractants and away from repellants, choosing the optimal route to the target.

5. **Axon-Axon Interactions:** Axons can also interact with each other, forming bundles called fascicles. This fasciculation can help to guide axons along a specific pathway, promoting coordinated growth.

The specific cues and pathways used during sympathetic neuron axon guidance vary depending on the target organ and the developmental stage. However, the general principles of chemoattraction, chemorepulsion, and growth cone navigation are essential to this process.

Defects in sympathetic neuron axon guidance can lead to various neurological disorders, including autonomic neuropathy, which affects the function of the sympathetic nervous system, and congenital malformations involving the heart, lungs, and other organs.'
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Proteins (2)

Compounds (52)