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Supporting cell proliferation in the olfactory epithelium decreases postnatally
1Department of Neurobiology and Physiology, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois 60208-3520, USA.
Glia
|March 28, 1998
Summary
Olfactory epithelium supporting cells show a steep decline in proliferation with age, unlike basal progenitor cells. This suggests distinct regulatory mechanisms for these cell types during olfactory system development.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cell Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Olfactory epithelium basal cells continuously proliferate to replace receptor neurons.
- Supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium also divide.
- The dynamics of supporting cell proliferation and its age-related changes are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the age-related changes in olfactory supporting cell proliferation density.
- To compare the proliferation rates of supporting cells with basal progenitor cells.
- To explore the relationship between supporting cell proliferation and olfactory epithelium growth.
Main Methods:
- Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling was used to identify dividing cells.
- Proliferation density of supporting and basal cells was measured in coronal sections.
- Analysis was conducted across various anterior-posterior regions in rats from birth (P1) to P333.
Main Results:
- Supporting cell proliferation density dramatically decreased from 80 cells/mm at P1 to 0.4 cells/mm at P333.
- This reduction in supporting cell proliferation was more pronounced than in basal cells.
- A weak correlation between basal and supporting cell proliferation was observed in neonates, diminishing in older animals.
Conclusions:
- Supporting cell proliferation is primarily linked to olfactory epithelium surface area growth, not neuron replacement.
- Distinct regulatory mechanisms govern basal progenitor and supporting cell proliferation.
- Supporting cells in the olfactory epithelium do not appear to undergo turnover, unlike olfactory neurons.