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Development of the olfactory epithelium in man
Insights
Human fetal olfactory epithelium development was examined. Olfactory receptor cells with hairs appear by 9 weeks, with full differentiation by 11 weeks, suggesting olfactory function capability.
Area of Science:
- Developmental biology
- Neuroscience
- Histology
Background:
- The human olfactory epithelium is crucial for smell perception.
- Understanding its developmental timeline is key to grasping olfactory system formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the developmental stages of the human olfactory epithelium.
- To identify the emergence and differentiation of olfactory receptor cells and associated structures.
Main Methods:
- Electron microscopy was employed to examine olfactory epithelium in human fetuses aged 7 to 11 weeks.
Main Results:
- Peripheral processes with immature olfactory knobs (lacking cilia) were observed at 7 weeks.
- Ciliated olfactory knobs first appeared at 9 weeks, increasing thereafter.
- Fully differentiated olfactory receptor and supporting cells were identified by 11 weeks.
Conclusions:
- The human olfactory epithelium undergoes significant development between 7 and 11 weeks of gestation.
- By 11 weeks, olfactory cells appear mature enough for olfactory function.
Abstract:
The development of the olfactory epithelium in 7-, 8-, 9-, 10- and 11-week-old human fetuses was studied by electron microscopy. The differentiation of the receptor and supporting cells, and formation of the Bowman glands and the olfactory nerve were observed. In 7-week-old fetuses develop the peripheral processes with the olfactory knobs lacking hairs, as well as the central processes with the growth cones. The olfactory knob with hairs was first found in 9-week-old fetuses, their number progressively increasing starting from the 10th week. The completely differentiated olfactory cells were found by the 11th week. They are suggested to be capable to carry out the olfactory function.