Fig. 3: Administration of 5HTP to pregnant females influences chromaffin and “bridge” cells in embryonic chromaffin organs.
From: Serotonin limits generation of chromaffin cells during adrenal organ development
a 5HTP was administered to pregnant Htr3aEGFP+/− females, which was followed by the analysis of embryonic adrenals at E13.5 by immunohistochemistry. b Transversal section through the adrenal glands (left) and Organ of Zuckerkandl (right) immunostained for TH, EGFP (indicating expression of Htr3a), and SOX10. The sections were obtained from E13.5 embryos collected from Htr3aEGFP+/− females from control and 5HTP-treated groups. c Cell numbers in adrenal medulla (left) and Organ of Zuckerkandl (right) at E13.5 in control and treated groups. Note that early chromaffin cells (HTR3AEGFP+/TH+) and mature chromaffin cells (HTR3AEGFP−/TH+) decrease, whereas SCPs (SOX10+) and “bridge” cells (HTR3AEGFP+/TH−) do not change in the treated group vs control in the adrenal medulla. At the same time, “bridge” cells (HTR3AEGFP+/TH−) accumulate and mature chromaffin cells (HTR3AEGFP−/TH+) decrease in the Organ of Zuckerkandl in the treated group. Cell number are presented as violin plots, where the green line indicates median, biological n = 3, Shapiro–Wilk test for normality and unpaired double-sided t-test p-value ns > 0.05, * < 0.05, ** < 0.002. d Cell number in adrenal medulla and sympathetic chain ganglia across four groups of E13.5 embryos treated during E11.5–E12.5 with: DMSO (control), 5HTP, 5HTP and Granisetron (HTR3A antagonist), SR57227 (HTR3A agonist). Note that cell numbers change in the adrenal medulla, but not in the sympathetic chain ganglion. Biological n = 6 (DMSO, 5HTP, SR57227), 5 (5HTP + Granisetron), one-way ANOVA AM p-value *0.0135, followed by Tukey multiple comparison test DMSO vs 5HTP p-value *0.0189, DMSO vs SR57227 p-value *0.0406; ANOVA SCG p-value ns 0.6265. e Changes in size and cellular composition in E13.5 adrenal medulla and Organ of Zuckerkandl in mice under the influence of increased 5HT (E11.5–E12.5). Cell numbers are presented as violin plots, the green line—median and the red lines—quartiles. Adrenal medulla (AM) and Organ of Zuckerkandl (ZO) are outlined by the dashed line in sections. SRG: suprarenal ganglion, SCG: sympathetic chain ganglion, MG: mesenteric ganglion.
