Chromaffin cells: the peripheral brain

Chromaffin cells probably are the most intensively studied of the neural crest derivates. They are closely related to the nervous system, share with neurons some fundamental mechanisms and thus were the ideal model to study the basic mechanisms of neurobiology for many years. The lessons we have learned from chromaffin cell biology as a peripheral model for the brain and brain diseases pertain more than ever to the cutting edge research in neurobiology. Here, we highlight how studying this cell model can help unravel the basic mechanisms of cell renewal and regeneration both in the central nervous system (CNS) and neuroendocrine tissue and also can help in designing new strategies for regenerative therapies of the CNS.