To define the role of artemin in sympathetic neurone development, we have studied the effect of artemin on the generation, survival and growth of sympathetic neurones in low-density dissociated cultures of mouse cervical and thoracic paravertebral sympathetic ganglia at stages throughout embryonic and postnatal development. Artemin promoted the proliferation of sympathetic neuroblasts and increased the generation of new neurones in cultures established from E12 to E14 ganglia. Artemin also exerted a transient survival-promoting action on newly generated neurones during these early stages of development. Between E16 and P8, artemin exerted no effect on survival, but by P12, as sympathetic neurones begin to acquire neurotrophic factor independent survival, artemin once again enhanced survival, and by P20 it promoted survival as effectively as nerve growth factor (NGF). During this late period of development, artemin also enhanced the growth of neurites from cultured neurones more effectively than NGF. Confirming the physiological relevance of the mitogenic action of artemin on cultured neuroblasts, there was a marked reduction in the rate of neuroblast proliferation in the sympathetic ganglia of mice lacking the GFRα3 subunit of the artemin receptor. These results indicate that artemin exerts several distinct effects on the generation, survival and growth of sympathetic neurones at different stages of development.
The Company of Biologists Workshops
For the last 15 years, our publisher, The Company of Biologists, has provided an apt environment to inspire biology and support biologists through our Workshops series. Read about the evolution of the Workshop series and revisit JEB's experience with hosting the first Global South Workshop.
Call for papers – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues
Development invites you to submit your latest research to our upcoming special issue – Lifelong Development: the Maintenance, Regeneration and Plasticity of Tissues. This issue will be coordinated by Guest Editors Meritxell Huch (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Germany) and Mansi Srivastava (Harvard University and Museum of Comparative Zoology, USA), working alongside our team of academic Editors. Submit your articles by 30 May 2025.
Meet our 2025 Pathway to Independence (PI) fellows
We are delighted to announce our third cohort of PI fellows - researchers whom we will be supporting as they transition from postdoc to Principal Investigator. Read about the eight talented fellows chosen, whom we're excited to be working with as they navigate the job market.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology
In this Perspective, B. Duygu Özpolat and colleagues survey researchers on their views on what it takes to infer mechanism in developmental biology. They examine what factors shape our idea of what we mean by ‘mechanism’ and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
the Node: Have your say
Our community site, the Node, is conducting a user survey about the content and the design of the site. Help us shape the Node's future and thank you for being a part of the Node over the last 15 years.
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