Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) in the olfactory system of rats and mice

The rodent olfactory system is a regarded model for the relationship between neurotrophic factors, their receptors, and their compound influence on the notable lifelong neuroplasticity occurring in this sensory system. It was known that high amounts of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF), a hematopoietic cytokine, can be found in the olfactory bulb. In the awarded work, a detailed cellular characterization of CNTF-localization in the olfactory system was obtained. The results demonstrated CNTF-immunoreactivity in olfactory ensheathing cells, newborn interneurons in the olfactory bulb, and in a subpopulation of mature olfactory sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium. Three-dimensional reconstructions of CNTF-immunoreactive axonal bulbar projections of these neurons revealed an ordered bilaterally symmetric pattern. This finding implies a potential connection between neuronal CNTF-expression in the olfactory epithelium and olfactory information processing.