Development of the anterior olfactory nucleus in normal and unilaterally odor deprived rats

The development of a second order structure in the olfactory pathway, the anterior olfactory nucleus, was examined in both normal rat pups and in subjects which underwent unilateral naris closure on postnatal day 1 (P1). Naris occlusion in neonatal rats produces a constellation of changes within the first relay in the pathway, the olfactory bulb, including a 25% reduction in total volume. Such large changes suggest that higher order structures might also be affected. Anterior olfactory nucleus development was quantified in several ways. Laminar volumes were computed by using serial section planimetry. In control animals differential development was observed, with regions extending most rostrally (e.g., pars externa and pars lateralis) exhibiting the least growth. The anterior olfactory nucleus on the "deprived" side of subjects with a single naris occluded was identical in size to that observed in controls, development within the pars lateralis was examined in control animals at P10, P20, P30, and adults. Developmental increases in numbers of both branches per cell and spines were noted, but mean branch length remained relatively constant. Finally, the effects of naris occlusion on histological patterns of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) staining and 2-deoxyglucose uptake within pars lateralis were examined at P20 to test for more subtle effects of naris occlusion. SDH staining was quite similar in deprived and control rats at P20. However, 3H-2-DG uptake was decreased in rostral areas of the anterior olfactory nucleus ipsilateral to the deprived olfactory bulb, suggesting that naris closure does affect the structure.