The mammalian adrenal gland is composed of two main components; the catecholaminergic neural crest-derived medulla, found in the center of the gland, and the mesoderm-derived cortex producing steroidogenic hormones. The medulla is composed of neuroendocrine chromaffin cells with oxygen-sensing properties and is dependent on tissue interactions with the overlying cortex, both during development and in adulthood. Other relevant organs include the Zuckerkandl organ containing extra-adrenal chromaffin cells, and carotid oxygen-sensing bodies containing glomus cells. Chromaffin and glomus cells reveal a number of important similarities and are derived from the multipotent nerve-associated descendants of the neural crest, or Schwann cell precursors. Abnormalities in complex developmental processes during differentiation of nerve-associated and other progenitors into chromaffin and oxygen-sensing populations may result in different subtypes of paraganglioma, neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Here, we summarize recent findings explaining the development of chromaffin and oxygen-sensing cells, as well as the potential mechanisms driving neuroendocrine tumor initiation.

哺乳动物的肾上腺由两个主要组成部分组成。位于腺体中心的儿茶酚胺能神经c衍生的髓质，以及中胚层衍生的皮质产生类固醇激素。髓质由具有氧敏感特性的神经内分泌嗜铬细胞组成，在发育和成年期均取决于组织与上皮的相互作用。其他相关器官包括含有肾上腺外嗜铬细胞的扎克干氏器官，以及含有肾小球细胞的颈动脉氧敏感体。嗜铬细胞和glomus细胞显示出许多重要的相似之处，并源自神经c或施旺细胞前体的多能神经相关的后代。在将神经相关祖细胞和其他祖细胞分化为嗜铬细胞和氧敏感群体的过程中，复杂的发育过程异常，可能导致副神经节瘤，神经母细胞瘤和嗜铬细胞瘤的亚型不同。在这里，我们总结了最近的发现，这些发现解释了嗜铬细胞和氧敏感细胞的发展，以及驱动神经内分泌肿瘤启动的潜在机制。