Fig. 1. Expression of different marker genes during ciliary ganglion development. (A) Expression of pan-neuronal (SCG10), noradrenergic (DBH) and cholinergic (VAChT, CHT1) marker genes and of autonomic transcription factors Cash1, Phox2a, Phox2b and dHand is shown at the stages indicated. Please note that only some of the SCG10/Phox2a/2b-positive cells are noradrenergic as revealed by expression of DBH at all stages. The same is true for the cholinergic markers VAChT or CHT1 at stages 19/20 and 24/25. Whereas noradrenergic genes are expressed transiently (with the exception of very few cells that still express DBH at stage 32/33), the proportion of cholinergic cells is strongly increased, so that at stage 32/33 virtually all neurons are cholinergic. Scale bars: 100 µm. (B) Expression of Cash1, Phox2b and DBH in the ciliary ganglion at stage 18. Whereas Cash1 is clearly detectable, Phox2b expression has just begun, and DBH expression cannot be detected at this stage. Arrowheads point to ciliary ganglion primordia (consecutive sections). (C) Schematic diagram summarizing the developmental expression pattern of the genes analysed in A.

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