Search results for "OLFACTORY"
showing 10 items of 319 documents
Rat olfactory bulb and epithelium UDP-glucuronosyltransferase 2A1 (UGT2A1) expression: in situ mRNA localization and quantitative analysis.
2001
UDP-glucuronosyltransferases (UGTs) form a multigenic family of enzymes involved in the biotransformation and elimination of numerous endo- and xenobiotic compounds. Beside the diverse UGT isoforms present in the liver as well as in other tissues, the UGT2A1 isoform, also called olfactory UGT, was initially thought to be expressed in the nasal epithelium only. In this work, we demonstrate the UGT2A1 mRNA expression in the olfactory bulb, using in situ hybridization and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques. Within the epithelium, UGT2A1 mRNA is mainly found in the sustentacular cells and to a lesser extent in Bowman's gland cells. Moreover, in situ…
PSA Depletion Induces the Differentiation of Immature Neurons in the Piriform Cortex of Adult Mice
2021
Immature neurons are maintained in cortical regions of the adult mammalian brain. In rodents, many of these immature neurons can be identified in the piriform cortex based on their high expression of early neuronal markers, such as doublecortin (DCX) and the polysialylated form of the neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM). This molecule plays critical roles in different neurodevelopmental events. Taking advantage of a DCX-CreERT2/Flox-EGFP reporter mice, we investigated the impact of targeted PSA enzymatic depletion in the piriform cortex on the fate of immature neurons. We report here that the removal of PSA accelerated the final development of immature neurons. This was revealed by a h…
Distribution of the A3 subunit of the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels in the main olfactory bulb of the rat.
2008
Previous data suggest that cyclic GMP (cGMP) signaling can play key roles in the circuitry of the olfactory bulb (OB). Therefore, the expression of cGMP-selective subunits of the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGs) can be expected in this brain region. In the present study, we demonstrate a widespread expression of the cGMP-selective A3 subunit of the cyclic nucleotide-gated ion channels (CNGA3) in the rat OB. CNGA3 appears in principal cells, including mitral cells and internal, medium and external tufted cells. Moreover, it appears in two populations of interneurons, including a subset of periglomerular cells and a group of deep short-axon cells. In addition to neurons, CNGA3-immu…
NADPH-diaphorase activity of nitric oxide synthase in the olfactory bulb: co-factor specificity and characterization regarding the interrelation to N…
1994
The neuronal form of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) synthesizes the messenger molecule nitric oxide (NO). In addition to NO formation, nNOS exhibits a so-called NADPH-diaphorase (NADPH-d) activity. This study focused on the characterization of NADPH-d activity with regard to NO formation in the rat olfactory bulb. In this area of the brain pronounced staining is localized in discrete populations of neuronal somata and in olfactory glomeruli. Diaphorase staining combined with demonstration of nNOS by polyclonal antibodies revealed that NADPH-d activity of neuron somata is associated with nNOS immunoreactivity. It is concluded that neuron somata exhibit NADPH-d activity of nNOS. NAD…
3D atlas describing the ontogenic evolution of the primary olfactory projections in the olfactory bulb of Xenopus laevis.
2005
The adult Xenopus presents the unique capability to smell odors both in water and air thanks to two different olfactory pathways. Nevertheless, the tadpole can initially perceive only water-borne odorants, as the olfactory receptor neurons (ORN) that will detect air-borne odorants develop later. Such a phenomenon requires major reorganization processes. Here we focused on the precise description of the neuroanatomical modifications occurring in the olfactory bulb (OB) of the tadpole throughout metamorphosis. Using both carbocyanine dyes and lectin staining, we investigated the evolution of ORN projection patterns into the OB from Stages 47 to 66, thus covering the period of time when all th…
Perceptual blending in odor mixtures depends on the nature of odorants and human olfactory expertise.
2012
International audience; Our olfactory system is confronted with complex mixtures of odorants, often recognized as single entities due to odor blending (e.g., coffee). In contrast, we are also able to discriminate odors from complex mixtures (e.g., off-odors). Therefore, the olfactory system is able to engage either configural or elemental processes when confronted with mixtures. However, the rules that govern the involvement of these processes during odor perception remain poorly understood. In our first experiment, we examined whether simple odorant mixtures (binary/ternary) could elicit configural perception. Twenty untrained subjects were asked to evaluate the odor typicality of mixtures…
Synaptic connectivity of serotonergic axons in the olfactory glomeruli of the rat olfactory bulb.
2010
Although the major mode of transmission for serotonin in the brain is volume transmission, previous anatomical studies have demonstrated that serotonergic axons do form synaptic contacts. The olfactory glomeruli of the olfactory bulb of mammals receive a strong serotonergic innervation from the dorsal and medial raphe nuclei. In the present report, we investigate the synaptic connectivity of these serotonergic axons in the glomerular neuropil of the rat olfactory bulb. Our study shows that serotonergic axons form asymmetrical synaptic contacts on dendrites within the glomerular neuropil. Analyzing the neurochemical nature of the synaptic targets, we have found that 55% of the synapses were …
Reduction of olfactory sensitivity during normobaric hypoxia.
2018
Abstract Objective Acute mountain sickness (AMS) is caused by a low partial pressure of oxygen and may occur above 2500 m. The aim of this research was to evaluate olfactory and gustatory abilities of healthy subjects during baseline conditions and after seven hours of normobaric hypoxia. Methods Sixteen healthy subjects were assessed using the Sniffin’ Sticks, as well as intensity and pleasantness ratings. Gustatory function was evaluated utilizing the Taste Strips. Experiments were carried out under baseline conditions (518 m altitude) followed by a second testing session after seven hours of normobaric hypoxia exposure (comparable to 4000 m altitude). Results During normobaric hypoxia ol…
Segregated pathways to the vomeronasal amygdala: differential projections from the anterior and posterior divisions of the accessory olfactory bulb.
2007
Apically and basally located receptor neurons in the vomeronasal sensory epithelium express G(i2 alpha)- and G(o alpha)-proteins, V1R and V2R vomeronasal receptors, project to the anterior and posterior accessory olfactory bulb and respond to different stimuli, respectively. The extent to which secondary projections from the two portions of the accessory olfactory bulb are convergent in the vomeronasal amygdala is controversial. This issue is addressed by using anterograde and retrograde tract-tracing methods in rats including electron microscopy. Injections of dextran-amines, Fluoro Gold, cholera toxin-B subunit and Fast Blue were delivered to the anterior and posterior accessory olfactory…
Organization of the ophidian amygdala: chemosensory pathways to the hypothalamus.
1999
Although recent studies in squamate reptiles have importantly clarified how chemical information is processed in the reptilian brain, how the amygdala relays chemosensory inputs to the hypothalamus to influence chemically guided behaviors is still poorly documented. To identify these chemosensory pathways, the amygdalo-hypothalamic projections, intra-amygdaloid circuitry and afferents from the lateral cortex (LC) to the amygdala were investigated by injecting conjugated dextran-amines into the hypothalamus, amygdala, and LC of garter snakes. The amygdala was divided into olfactory recipient (ventral anterior and external amygdalae), vomeronasal recipient (nucleus sphericus, NS, and medial a…