Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 2, 2026
14:33
The Subventricular Zone En-face: Wholemount Staining and Ependymal Flow
Published on: May 6, 2010
Mesenchymal/epithelial induction mediates olfactory pathway formation
A S LaMantia1, N Bhasin, K Rhodes
1Department of Cell and Molecular Physiology and Center for Neuroscience, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Medical School, 27599, USA. anthony_lamantia@med.unc.edu
Neuron
|January 6, 2001
Summary
Mesenchymal/epithelial induction, guided by retinoic acid (RA), FGF8, sonic hedgehog (shh), and BMPs, is crucial for olfactory pathway development. Disrupting these signals impairs neuronal differentiation and axon growth in the olfactory nerve.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Mesenchymal/epithelial induction is a fundamental process in embryonic development.
- Signaling pathways involving retinoic acid (RA), FGF8, sonic hedgehog (shh), and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) orchestrate tissue patterning and differentiation.
- These pathways are critical for the development of various structures, including limbs, branchial arches, and the heart.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of mesenchymal/epithelial induction in the patterning, morphogenesis, and differentiation of the olfactory pathway.
- To determine the specific contributions of retinoic acid (RA), FGF8, sonic hedgehog (shh), and BMP signaling to olfactory pathway development.
- To understand how established developmental mechanisms are adapted for olfactory system formation.
Main Methods:
- The study likely involved analyzing gene expression patterns and signaling pathway activity in developing olfactory tissues.
- Experimental manipulation of RA, FGF8, shh, or BMP signaling pathways in model systems was likely employed.
- Morphological and cellular analyses were used to assess the impact of signaling disruptions on olfactory pathway development.
Main Results:
- Mesenchymal/epithelial induction, mediated by RA, FGF8, shh, and BMPs, is essential for defining the patterning, morphogenesis, and differentiation of the olfactory pathway.
- Disruption of RA, FGF8, shh, or BMP signaling pathways leads to specific defects in olfactory pathway patterning and neuronal differentiation.
- Neuronal differentiation within the olfactory epithelium and the directed growth of axons in the olfactory nerve are critically dependent on these inductive interactions.
Conclusions:
- The cellular and molecular mechanisms governing musculoskeletal and vascular development have been repurposed to guide the differentiation of the olfactory pathway.
- Proper development of the olfactory system relies on the precise interplay of key signaling molecules during embryonic development.
- Understanding these inductive processes provides insights into the molecular basis of sensory system formation.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Olfaction
The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
01:30Neurulation
Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the anterior...
01:51Determination
During embryogenesis, cells become progressively committed to different fates through a two-step process: specification followed by determination. Specification is demonstrated by removing a segment of an early embryo, “neutrally” culturing the tissue in vitro—for example, in a petri dish with simple medium—and then observing the derivatives. If the cultured region gives rise to cell types that it would normally generate in the embryo, this means that it is specified. In contrast, determination...