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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.
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The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
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Topographic organization in the olfactory bulb.

Claudia Lodovichi1

  • 1Neuroscience Institute CNR, Department of Biomedical Science, Veneto Institute of Molecular Medicine, Padova Neuroscience Center, Padova, Italy. claudia.lodovichi@unipd.it.

Cell and Tissue Research
|January 6, 2021
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Summary

Olfactory receptors guide sensory neurons to specific targets in the olfactory bulb, forming precise brain maps. This process involves molecular cues and neural activity for accurate odor detection.

Keywords:
Electrical activityNeuronal circuitsOdorant receptorOlfactory bulbTopographic map

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory System Development
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • The olfactory system detects diverse odorants via numerous odorant receptors (ORs) and complex neuronal circuits.
  • Over 1000 ORs in the olfactory epithelium map to glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, forming precise spatial arrangements.
  • The mechanism for this precise glomerular mapping from randomly distributed receptors remains incompletely understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the mechanisms governing the formation of olfactory neuronal circuits.
  • To highlight the role of odorant receptors in directing sensory neuron axon targeting.
  • To discuss the contribution of spontaneous neural activity to synaptic development and maintenance.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on olfactory circuit formation.
  • Analysis of studies investigating molecular cues in axon guidance.
  • Examination of research on the role of electrical activity in synaptic development.

Main Results:

  • Odorant receptor identity is a key determinant of sensory neuron targeting to specific glomeruli.
  • Olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) expressing specific ORs converge onto defined glomerular targets.
  • Neuronal wiring specificity results from an interplay of molecular cues and spontaneous neuronal activity.

Conclusions:

  • Odorant receptors play a crucial role in establishing the topographic map in the olfactory bulb.
  • Spontaneous neural activity is essential for the proper development and ongoing maintenance of olfactory synapses.
  • Understanding these mechanisms provides insight into sensory map formation and neural circuit assembly.