Sympathetic Neurons is an important component in the neurobiology of neurodegenerative diseases. This page provides detailed information about its structure, function, and role in disease processes.
Sympathetic neurons are components of the autonomic nervous system that regulate involuntary functions including heart rate, blood pressure, pupil dilation, sweat production, and digestive motility. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons degenerate in autonomic neuropathies, and sympathetic dysfunction is an early feature of Parkinson's disease and multiple system atrophy. [1]
| Property | Value | [2]
|----------|-------| [3]
| Cell Type Name | Sympathetic Neurons | [4]
| Allen Atlas ID | Sympathetic ganglia (superior cervical, stellate, thoracic chain) | [5]
| Lineage | Neural crest > Sympathoblast > Sympathetic neuron | [6]
| Marker Genes | PHOX2B, ASCL1, TH, DBH, PHOX2A, GATA2, HAND2 | [7]
| Brain Regions | Sympathetic chain ganglia, prevertebral ganglia |
| Taxonomy | ID | Name / Label |
|---|---|---|
| Cell Ontology (CL) | CL:0011103 | sympathetic neuron |
| Database | ID | Name | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cell Ontology | CL:0011103 | sympathetic neuron | Exact |
The sympathetic nervous system has two neurons in series:
Long, unmyelinated C fibers:
Heart
Blood vessels
| Organ | Sympathetic Effect | Receptor |
|---|---|---|
| Heart | ↑ Rate, ↑ contractility | β1 |
| Lungs | Bronchodilation | β2 |
| GI tract | ↓ Motility, ↓ secretion | α2 |
| Kidneys | ↓ Urine output | α1 |
| Bladder | Urinary retention | α1, β3 |
| Liver | Glycogenolysis, gluconeogenesis | β2, α1 |
The sympathetic nervous system mediates the fight-or-flight response:
Sympathetic dysfunction occurs in 50-80% of PD patients:
Single-cell RNA sequencing of sympathetic neurons:
| Drug | Target | Application |
|---|---|---|
| Midodrine | α1 agonist | Orthostatic hypotension |
| Droxidopa | Norepinephrine prodrug | Neurogenic hypotension |
| Pyridostigmine | AChE inhibitor | Autoimmune dysautonomia |
| β-blockers | β1 | Resting tachycardia |
| Clonidine | α2 agonist | Hypertension, sweating |
The study of Sympathetic Neurons has evolved significantly over the past decades. Research in this area has revealed important insights into the underlying mechanisms of neurodegeneration and continues to drive therapeutic development.
Historical context and key discoveries in this field have shaped our current understanding and will continue to guide future research directions.
Goldstein DS, Sharabi Y. Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension: a pathophysiology update. Clin Auton Res. 2019. ↩︎ ↩︎
Braak H, Saper CB. α-Synuclein in autonomic nervous system: a critical update. J Neural Transm (Vienna). 2019. ↩︎
Kaufmann H, Goldstein DS. Autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson disease. Handb Clin Neurol. 2021. ↩︎
Low PA, Benarroch EE. Clinical autonomic disorders. 2008. ↩︎
Wenning GK, Stankovic I, Vignatelli L, et al. The Movement Disorder Society criteria for the diagnosis of multiple system atrophy. Mov Disord. 2022. ↩︎
Schmidt C, Herting B, Prieur S, et al. Autonomic dysfunction in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy. Mov Disord. 2019. ↩︎
Ziemssen T, Reichmann H. Cardiovascular autonomic dysfunction in Parkinson disease. J Neurol Sci. 2010. ↩︎
Freeman R. Autonomic peripheral neuropathy. Lancet. 2005. ↩︎