[Development of olfactory epithelial grafts in the anterior chamber of the eye]

Olfactory epithelium of newborn rats was transplanted into the anterior eye chamber of the adult rat. Within 6-8 weeks the transplants increased in weight by a factor of 20-50. Morphological analysis has shown the cells similar to olfactory sensory neurones in the grafts. Electroolfactograms obtained with n-amyl acetate and camphor had the amplitude of about three times less and the duration of about 8-10 times more than those from the normal olfactory epithelium at the same concentration of stimuli. Within six hours after 3H-beta-alanine had been introduced into the anterior eye chamber, 72% of the label were present in the carnosine fraction. The data obtained suggest that olfactory sensory neurones appear in the olfactory epithelium grafts into the anterior eye chamber.