Olfactory Peduncle Research Articles

Differential Localization of Pain-Related Neural Responses During Acupuncture Stimulation Using Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) fMRI in a Canine Model

The objective of this study was to differentiate the neuronal responses, which was related or unrelated, to pain associated with acupuncture stimulation, and to localize the brain regions with response to stimulation that is unrelated to pain by using Blood Oxygen Level Dependent (BOLD) functional MRI (fMRI). BOLD fMRI was performed in six normal healthy beagle dogs, during placebo and verum acupuncture stimulations, at the right side of BL60 (KunLun) acupoint before and after local anesthesia of the acupoint. The order of the four sessions was placebo; verum acupuncture stimulation; before local anesthesia; and followed by the same stimulation after local anesthesia. One-sample t-test analysis was performed to localize the activated or deactivated areas, during both pre-anesthesia and post-anesthesia. In order to compare the pre-anesthesia to post-anesthetic responses, and placebo to verum acupuncture stimulation, within-subject analysis was performed. The post-anesthetic verum acupuncture stimulation resulted in increased activations in the left somatic afferent area I and II, right visual and auditory association area, and the descending reticular activating system of the brainstem. In addition, differential areas during post-anesthesia compared to that of the pre-anesthesia were in the left olfactory peduncle and descending reticular activating system of the brainstem. These results indicate that the areas of specific neural pathway are considered to be unrelated to the pain response during acupuncture stimulation.

Systematization, description and territory of the caudal cerebral artery of the brain in broad-snouted Caiman (Caiman latirostris)

Thirty heads with the neck segment of Caiman latirostris were used. The animals were provided from a creation center called Mister Caiman, under the authorization of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama). Animals were sacrificed according to the slaughtering routine of the abattoir, and the heads were sectioned at the level of the third cervical vertebra. The arterial system was washed with cold saline solution, with drainage through jugular veins. Subsequently, the system was filled with red colored latex injection. Pieces were than fixed in 20% formaldehyde, for seven days. The brains were removed, with a spinal cord segment, the duramater removed and the arteries dissected. At the level of the hypophysis, the internal carotid artery gave off a rostral branch, and a short caudal branch, continuing, naturally, as the caudal cerebral artery. This artery projected laterodorsalwards and, as it overpassed the optic tract, gave off its I (the first) central branch. Penetrated in the cerebral transverse fissure, emitting the diencephalic artery and next its II (second) central branch. Still inside the fissure, originated occipital hemispheric branches and a pineal branch. Emerged from the cerebral transverse fissure, over the occipital pole of the cerebral hemisphere. Projected rostralwards, sagital to the cerebral longitudinal fissure, as interhemispheric artery. This artery gave off medial and convex hemispheric branches to the respective surfaces of the cerebral hemispheres, anastomosed with its contralateral homologous, forming the common ethmoidal artery. This artery entered the fissure between the olfactory peduncles, emerging ventrally and dividing into ethmoidal arteries, right and left, which progressed towards the nasal cavities, vascularizing them. The territory of the caudal cerebral artery included the most caudal area of the base of the cerebral hemisphere, its convex surface, the olfactory peduncles and bulbs, the choroid plexuses and the diencephalus with its parietal organs.

The mouse olfactory peduncle

The olfactory peduncle, the region connecting the olfactory bulb with the basal forebrain, contains several neural areas that have received relatively little attention. The present work includes studies that provide an overview of the region in the mouse. An analysis of cell soma size in pars principalis (pP) of the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) revealed considerable differences in tissue organization between mice and rats. An unbiased stereological study of neuron number in the cell-dense regions of pars externa (pE) and pP of the AON of 3-, 12-, and 24-month-old mice indicated that pE has about 16,500 cells in 0.043 mm(3) and pP about 58,300 cells in 0.307 mm(3) . Quantitative Golgi studies of pyramidal neurons in pP suggested that mouse neurons are similar to although smaller than those of the rat. An immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that all peduncular regions (pE, pP, the dorsal peduncular cortex, ventral tenia tecta, and anterior olfactory tubercle and piriform cortex) have cells that express either calbindin, calretinin, parvalbumin, somatostatin, vasoactive intestinal polypeptide, neuropeptide Y, or cholecystokinin (antigens commonly co-expressed by subspecies of γ-aminobutyric acid [GABA]ergic neurons), although the relative numbers of each cell type differ between zones. Finally, an electron microscopic comparison of the organization of myelinated fibers in lateral olfactory tract in the anterior and posterior peduncle indicated that the region is less orderly in mice than in rats. The results provide a caveat for investigators who generalize data between species, as both similarities and differences between the laboratory mouse and rat were observed.

Cetacean Brain Evolution: Dwarf Sperm Whale (Kogia sima) and Common Dolphin (Delphinus delphis) – An Investigation with High-Resolution 3D MRI

This study compares a whole brain of the dwarf sperm whale (Kogia sima) with that of a common dolphin (Delphinus delphis) using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The Kogia brain was scanned with a Siemens Trio Magnetic Resonance scanner in the three main planes. As in the common dolphin and other marine odontocetes, the brain of the dwarf sperm whale is large, with the telencephalic hemispheres remarkably dominating the brain stem. The neocortex is voluminous and the cortical grey matter thin but expansive and densely convoluted. The corpus callosum is thin and the anterior commissure hard to detect whereas the posterior commissure is well-developed. There is consistency as to the lack of telencephalic structures (olfactory bulb and peduncle, olfactory ventricular recess) and neither an occipital lobe of the telencephalic hemisphere nor the posterior horn of the lateral ventricle are present. A pineal organ could not be detected in Kogia. Both species show a tiny hippocampus and thin fornix and the mammillary body is very small whereas other structures of the limbic system are well-developed. The brain stem is thick and underlies a large cerebellum, both of which, however, are smaller in Kogia. The vestibular system is markedly reduced with the exception of the lateral (Deiters’) nucleus. The visual system, although well-developed in both species, is exceeded by the impressive absolute and relative size of the auditory system. The brainstem and cerebellum comprise a series of structures (elliptic nucleus, medial accessory inferior olive, paraflocculus and posterior interpositus nucleus) showing characteristic odontocete dimensions and size correlations. All these structures seem to serve the auditory system with respect to echolocation, communication, and navigation.

Chemical organization of the macaque monkey olfactory bulb: III. Distribution of cholinergic markers

The distribution patterns of choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) were studied in the olfactory bulb (OB) of three species of macaque. AChE was detected by a histochemical method and ChAT immunoreactivity by immunocytochemistry. Similar results were observed in all species analyzed. With the exception of the olfactory nerve layer, all layers of the macaque monkey OB demonstrated a dense innervation of AChE- and ChAT-positive fibers. The distribution patterns of AChE- and ChAT-labeled fibers were similar for both cholinergic markers, although the number of AChE-labeled fibers was clearly higher than the number of ChAT-immunoreactive fibers. The highest density of AChE and ChAT-stained fibers was observed in the interface between the glomerular layer and the external plexiform layer and in the internal plexiform layer. Dense bundles of labeled fibers were observed in the caudal OB, coursing from the olfactory peduncle. All ChAT-immunopositive elements were identified as centrifugal fibers, derived from neurons caudal to the OB. Neither olfactory fibers nor intrinsic neurons were observed after ChAT immunocytochemistry. However, a few AChE-positive cells were observed in the glomerular layer and in both external and internal plexiform layers. These neurons were presumably identified as periglomerular cells, superficial short-axon cells, and/or external tufted cells and deep short-axon cells. Contrary to other neurotransmitters and neuroactive substances, the distribution patterns of ChAT and AChE activities in the macaque monkey OB closely resembled the patterns described in macrosmatic mammals and showed laminar differences with the distribution pattern observed in humans.

Role of centrifugal projections to the olfactory bulb in olfactory processing

While there is evidence that feedback projections from cortical and neuromodulatory structures to the olfactory bulb are crucial for maintaining the oscillatory dynamics of olfactory bulb processing, it is not clear how changes in dynamics are related to odor perception. Using electrical lesions of the olfactory peduncle, sparing output from the olfactory bulb while decreasing feedback inputs to the olfactory bulb, we demonstrate here a role for feedback inputs to the olfactory bulb in the formation of odor-reward associations, but not for maintaining primary bulbar odor representations, as reflected by spontaneous odor discrimination.

Learning‐induced oscillatory activities correlated to odour recognition: a network activity

In trained behaving rats, the expression of a prominent beta oscillatory activity in the olfactory system was previously identified as a correlate of odour recognition. The aim of the present study was to assess the putative role of a functional coupling between the olfactory bulb (OB) and higher structures in this activity. We performed a unilateral inactivation of the medial part of the olfactory peduncle by lidocaine infusion. Inactivation deprived the OB from most of its centrifugal afferences, including feedback connections from the piriform cortex (PC) while sparing the ascending fibres from the OB to higher cortical structures. This treatment reduced the amplitude of odour-induced oscillatory beta responses both in OB and PC. In parallel, gamma activity classically observed in these two structures during spontaneous activity displayed a strong enhancement. Results suggest that odour-induced oscillatory response could be the emergent feature of an olfactory functional network set up through learning.

Deeply located granule cells and mitral cells undergo apoptosis after transection of the central connections of the main olfactory bulb in the adult rat

The main olfactory bulb (MOB) is the first relay station of the olfactory system: it receives afferents from sensory neurons and sends efferents to the primary olfactory cortex. The MOB also receives many centrifugal afferents from various regions. Transection of peripheral afferents to the MOB has been reported to induce cell death in granule cells. However, little is known about the effect of transection of these central connections of the MOB in adult rats. Here, we used a unilateral olfactory peduncle transection model in the adult rat to examine neuronal degeneration in the MOB. In the MOB ipsilateral to the surgery, the granule cell layer (GCL) was smaller, and the number of mitral cells was decreased compared with the contralateral MOB at 7 days after surgery. Many degenerating cells were present in both the mitral cell layer (MCL) and GCL in the ipsilateral MOB at 3 days after surgery, although there were no obvious changes in the gross morphology. We also found terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT)-mediated dUTP-digoxigenin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells in the MCL and GCL in the ipsilateral MOB at 3 days after surgery. The majority of the degenerating and TUNEL-positive cells were located in the deep, rather than the superficial, GCL. Immunohistochemistry for activated caspase-9 further supported the occurrence of apoptotic cell death in the mitral and deeply located granule cells. These results indicate that not only axotomized mitral cells, but also deeply located granule cells that were not directly injured, underwent apoptosis after transection of the central connections, and suggest that sensitivities to transection of the central connections differ among granule cells according to their depth in the GCL.

Learning-induced modulation of oscillatory activities in the mammalian olfactory system: The role of the centrifugal fibres

In the mammalian olfactory system, oscillations related to odour representation have been described in field potential activities. Previous results showed that in olfactory bulb (OB) of awake rats engaged in an olfactory learning, odour presentation produced a decrease of oscillations in gamma frequency range (60–90 Hz) associated with a power increase in beta frequency range (15–40 Hz). This response pattern was strongly amplified in trained animals. The aim of this work was twofold: whether learning also induces similar changes in OB target structures and whether such OB response depends on its centrifugal inputs. Local field potentials (LFPs) were recorded through chronically implanted electrodes in the OB, piriform and enthorhinal cortices of freely moving rats performing an olfactory discrimination. Oscillatory activities characteristics (amplitude, frequency and time-course) were extracted in beta and gamma range by a wavelet analysis. First, we found that odour induced beta oscillatory activity was present not only in the OB, but also in the other olfactory structures. In each recording site, characteristics of the beta oscillatory responses were dependent of odour, structure and learning level. Unilateral section of the olfactory peduncle was made before training, and LFPs were symmetrically recorded in the two bulbs all along the acquisition of the learning task. Data showed that deprivation of centrifugal feedback led to an increase of spontaneous gamma activity. Moreover, under this condition olfactory learning was no longer associated with the typical large beta band. As a whole, learning modulation of the beta oscillatory response in olfactory structures may reflect activity of a distributed functional network involved in odour representation.

Drug Targeting to the Brain: Transfer of Picolinic Acid Along the Olfactory Pathways

Picolinic acid (PA) protects against quinolinic acid- and kainic acid-induced neurotoxicity in the brain. To study the uptake of PA to the brain, we administered [3 H]PA via a unilateral nasal instillation or iv injection to mice. Autoradiography demonstrated a rapid uptake of radioactivity in the olfactory nerve layer and in the ipsilateral olfactory bulb (OB) following nasal instillation of [3 H]PA. After 4 h, there was a high level of radioactivity in the central parts of the ipsilateral OB and olfactory peduncle. Moreover, iv injection of [3 H]PA demonstrated a selective uptake and retention of radioactivity in the OB. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) demonstrated the presence of PA and PA-glycine conjugate in the OB. In mice with reduced peripheral olfactory innervations there was a decreased uptake of [3 H]PA in the OB as compared to controls suggesting that an intact olfactory neuroepithelium is a prerequisite for an uptake of PA to the OB. There is an increased interest in brain targeting of drugs with limited ability to pass the blood-brain barrier. The present results demonstrate that PA fulfils structural requirements for a transfer along the olfactory pathways to the brain.

Localization of FMRFamide-Like Immunoreactivity in the Brain of the Viviparous Skink (Chalcides chalcides)

Neuroanatomical distribution of FMRFamide-like immunoreactivity was investigated in the brain and olfactory system of the viviparous skink, Chalcides chalcides. In the adult brain FMRFamide immunoreactive (ir) perikarya were observed in the diagonal band of Broca, medial septal nucleus, accumbens nucleus, bed nucleus of the anterior commissure, periventricular hypothalamic nucleus, lateral forebrain bundle, and lateral preoptic, subcommissural, suprachiasmatic and lateral hypothalamic areas. This pattern was seen in both male and female brains. Though all major brain areas showed FMRFamide-ir innervation, the densest ir fiber network was observed in the hypothalamus. During development, ir elements were observed for the first time in embryos at mid-pregnancy. FMRFamide perikarya were located along the ventral surface of the vomeronasal nerve, in the olfactory peduncle mediobasally, as well as in the anterior olfactory nucleus and olfactory tubercle. Furthermore, some ir neurons were observed in the rhombencephalic reticular substance; however, the ir fiber network was poorly developed. Later in development FMRFamide-ir neurons appeared also in the bed nucleus of the anterior commissure as well as the rhombencephalic nucleus of solitary tract and the dorsal motor nucleus of vagus nerve. In juveniles, the distribution profile of FMRFamide immunoreactivity was substantially similar to that of the adults, with a less widespread neuronal distribution and a more developed fiber network. Ontogenetic presence of FMRFamide immunoreactivity in the nasal area has been linked to the presence of a nervus terminalis in this reptile.

Olfactory bulb and retrobulbar regions in the hedgehog tenrec: Organization and interconnections

The Madagascan lesser hedgehog tenrec (Echinops telfairi) is a terrestrial, nocturnal insectivore with a low encephalization index and a huge olfactory bulb. To gain insight into the organization and evolution of olfactory regions in placental mammals, the cytoarchitecture (Nissl), neurochemical attributes [zinc and acetylcholinesterase stain, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPh)-diaphorase, and calcium-binding proteins], and interconnections (injections of wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase and biotinylated dextran amine) of tenrec bulbar and retrobulbar regions were examined. The tenrec has a well-laminated main olfactory bulb, and modified (atypical) glomeruli are found that, to date, have been demonstrated only in murine rodents. Compared with the main olfactory bulb, the accessory bulb is relatively small, with clearly different staining characteristics, particularly with respect to NADPh-diaphorase, anticalbindin, and anticalretinin. External and central anterior olfactory nuclei also show characteristic cytoarchitectural and chemoarchitectural features. The medial olfactory peduncle seems to differ considerably from that in rodents. A small taenial structure can be separated from the hippocampal continuation. This taenia tecti presumably corresponds to the superior part of the tenia tecti in rodents, but no homologue of the rodent's prominent inferior taenia tecti could be found. The connections of bulbar and retrobulbar regions are similar to those seen in other mammals. Interbulbar projection systems connect the two olfactory bulbs through an external (topographic) and central (nontopographic) anterior nucleus; however, the topographic arrangement of the intrabulbar association system seems to differ from that seen in rodents. A reciprocity of direct olfactory bulb connections with the frontal (sulcal/orbital) cortex was found in the tenrec that has not been reported so far in other species.

Tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactive structures in the aged human olfactory bulb and olfactory peduncle

We studied the anatomical distribution of dopaminergic structures in the normal, aged, human olfactory bulb and olfactory peduncle with a monoclonal antibody against tyrosine hydroxylase. Three different tyrosine hydroxylase containing cell groups are present in the olfactory bulbs: (1) a group of round, medium-sized cells within and around the glomeruli; (2) cells in the external plexiform layer; and (3) cells that are scattered in the stratum album. Occasionally, a few labeled neurons can be observed in the granule cell layer. In the olfactory peduncle a few labeled cells are present in the superficial layers just underneath the pia. Tyrosine hydroxylase containing terminal-like structures are present in the glomerular layer and the external plexiform layer. In a few cases dense terminal labeling is also observed in the cell groups that constitute the anterior olfactory nucleus. In the olfactory peduncle scattered labeled fibers are present. In addition, the present study makes clear that quantitative differences exist between the individual cases for which no explanation could be found.

Cerebrospinal cuterebriasis in cats and its association with feline ischemic encephalopathy.

Over the past 10 years, 10 cats with primary central nervous system infection by larvae of Cuterebra flies have been documented at Cornell University. Clinical abnormalities noted in all cats were progressive and most commonly consisted of depression (6/10), blindness (6/10), and behavior changes (2/10). Affected cats presented most commonly in July (2/10) and August (7/10); one cat was presented in September. The diverse histopathologic changes are unique to this aberrant migration and consist of a combination of five characteristic features: 1) parasitic track lesion (7/10), 2) superficial laminar cerebrocortical necrosis (10/10), 3) cerebral infarction (8/10), 4) subependymal rarefaction and astrogliosis with or without ependymal cell loss (7/10), and 5) subpial astrogliosis (7/10). Changes 2-5 occurred throughout the parenchyma unassociated with the track lesion or the parasite in the affected tissue. The larvae have been recovered most commonly in the region of the olfactory bulbs and peduncles, optic nerves, and cribriform plate, suggesting entry from the nasal cavity. Many of the changes noted are suggestive of a toxic factor elaborated by the parasite and borne within the cerebrospinal fluid, as well as vascular compromise as a component in those cats with brain infarction. Because of the prevalence of infarction associated with this syndrome and the lack of reported cases of such lesions in regions of the world devoid of the fly, we propose that aberrant cuterebral larval migration in the brain is the cause of feline ischemic encephalopathy.

Immunohistochemical changes in the anterior olfactory nucleus of the developing rat

The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) is located caudal to the olfactory bulb in the olfactory peduncle. Although this important structure is involved in the bilateral coordination of olfactory information, relatively little is known about its development, structure, or function. The present report details results from an immunohistochemical examination of specific neuronal (microtubule-associated protein-2: MAP2, calbindin D28-k, neuropeptide-Y: NPY) and glial (astrocytes; glial fibrillary-associated protein, or GFAP, oligodendrocytes; RIP) populations in postnatal Days 10, 20, and 30 rats. MAP2-immunoreactivity (-ir), was present throughout the AON, although most dense in the outer plexiform layer. Increases in labeling occurred from Day 10 to Day 30, reflecting the maturation of dendritic processes. Both temporal and regional differences in expression were found with the two neuronal markers. For example, although substantial numbers of calbindin-ir cells were observed as early as Day 10, relatively few cells exhibited NPY-ir. An apparent decline in the number of stained figures was observed from Days 20–30 with both markers. Most cells exhibiting calbindin- or NPY-ir were found in the inner half of the cellular zone of the AON. GFAP-ir was localized mainly to the subependymal zone and the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) at Day 10, with successive increases in staining in the cellular and plexiform layers at Days 20 and 30. Oligodendrocyte-ir was restricted to the anterior commissure and the LOT at Day 10, with dramatic increases in labeling of the cellular and plexiform layers observed by Days 20 and 30. These results represent some of the first analyses of the maturation of specific cellular phenotypes within this large neural region. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Dev Psychobiol 31: 181–192, 1997

Immunohistochemical changes in the anterior olfactory nucleus of the developing rat

The anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) is located caudal to the olfactory bulb in the olfactory peduncle. Although this important structure is involved in the bilateral coordination of olfactory information, relatively little is known about its development, structure, or function. The present report details results from an immunohistochemical examination of specific neuronal (microtubule-associated protein-2: MAP2, calbindin D28-k, neuropeptide-Y: NPY) and glial (astrocytes: glial fibrillary-associated protein, or GFAP, oligodendrocytes; RIP) populations in postnatal Days 10, 20, and 30 rats. MAP2-immunoreactivity (-ir), was present throughout the AON, although most dense in the outer plexiform layer. Increases in labeling occurred from Day 10 to Day 30, reflecting the maturation of dendritic processes. Both temporal and regional differences in expression were found with the two neuronal markers. For example, although substantial numbers of calbindin-ir cells were observed as early as Day 10, relatively few cells exhibited NPY-ir. An apparent decline in the number of stained figures was observed from Days 20-30 with both markers. Most cells exhibiting calbindin- or NPY-ir were found in the inner half of the cellular zone of the AON. GFAP-ir was localized mainly to the subependymal zone and the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) at Day 10, with successive increases in staining in the cellular and plexiform layers at Days 20 and 30. Oligodendrocyte-ir was restricted to the anterior commissure and the LOT at Day 10, with dramatic increases in labeling of the cellular and plexiform layers observed by Days 20 and 30. These results represent some of the first analyses of the maturation of specific cellular phenotypes within this large neural region.

Uptake of nickel into the brain via olfactory neurons in rats

Intranasal instillation of nickel ( 63Ni 2+ ) in rats resulted in an uptake of the metal in the olfactory epithelium and a migration along primary olfactory neurons to the glomeruli of the olfactory bulb. The metal was then seen to pass to the interior of the bulb and further to the olfactory peduncle, the olfactory tubercle and the rostral parts of the prepiriform, frontal and cingulate corticis. These results indicate that 63Ni 2+ slowly passes to secondary and tertiary olfactory neurons. Intraperitoneal injection of 63Ni 2+ resulted in a low uptake in the brain, without preferential labelling of the olfactory pathways. Inhalation of nickel compounds can impair the olfactory system. An uptake of nickel in the olfactory neurons may underly these lesions.

A tangential neuronal migration in the olfactory bulbs of adult lizards.

Tritiated thymidine ([3H]thymidine) autoradiography at different times after experiments showed that postnatally generated neurones in the adult lizard olfactory bulbs are not generated in a local germinative zone but in the ventricular zone (VZ) of the cerebral hemispheres, which is a long distance from the olfactory bulbs. The new cells originating in the VZ of rostral telencephalon migrate to both main and accessory olfactory bulbs through the olfactory peduncle, along a highly restricted pathway orthogonal to the orientation of radial glial fibres. Our results suggest that the olfactory bulb interneurones of adult lizards may follow a tangential migration route from their germinative zone, as is the case in mammals.

Odour-induced c- fos expression in the rat olfactory bulb: involvement of centrifugal afferents

Expression of the proto-oncogene c- fos is known to increase in granule cells of the olfactory bulb following a sustained olfactory stimulation. Most granule cells displaying high levels of Fos accumulation are located in the bulbar columns defined by the odour-induced foci of high 2-deoxyglucose glomerular uptake. The present studies were undertaken in order to assess the possible involvement of centrifugal afferents in the modulation of odour-induced patterns of either 2-deoxyglucose accumulation or c- fos expression in the olfactory bulb. A unilateral olfactory peduncle section had no effect on the odour-induced 2-deoxyglucose foci but induced a significant decrease in the number of Fos-containing neurons in odour-selective areas of both olfactory bulbs, ipsilateral and contralateral to the lesion. This suppressive effect was much more pronounced in the side ipsilateral to the peduncle section. It is concluded that c- fos expression induced by a sustained stimulation with propionic acid vapours is not only determined by the olfactory peripheral input but also by afferents of central origin. In order to estimate the contingent involvements of the cholinergic and noradrenergenic afferents in this control of c- fos expression, we attempted to mimic the effects of the surgical deafferentation on odour-induced c- fos expression by using a pharmacological approach with selective cholinergic and noradrenergic antagonists. The β-adrenergic antagonist propanolol induced a suppression of the odour-related patterns of Fos accumulation similar to the one caused by the surgical deafferentation of the olfactory bulb. The muscarinic antagonist scopolamine did not alter c- fos expression in the odour-selective area but increased significantly Fos labelling in the other bulbar aspects. Pharmacological investigations indicate that the noradrenergic and cholinergic centrifugal systems are likely involved in the central modulation of c- fos expression in the OB. The Fos protein could be expressed as an early nuclear signal triggering further long-term modifications of the neuronal phenotype, in certain conditions of sensory stimulation involving the activation of centrifugal systems.

Olfactory bulb transplants establish afferent and efferent connections with host forebrain in rat

We are using wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated horseradish peroxidase (WIiRP) to study reconnectivity in the transplanted (TX) olfactory bulb (OB) in Sprague-Dawley rats. Tritium-labeled OBs from fetal rat donors of Embryonic Days 14–15 were immediately grafted into neonatal rats in the site from which the host OB had been removed. Following survival times of 7 weeks and longer, WHRP solution was injected into the TX OB, and subjects were perfused after 24 h. The WHRP transport is seen in fibers from the TX OB into layer I of the host olfactory peduncle (OP) and olfactory cortex (OC) and in cell bodies in layers II and III of the OP and OC, the lateral hypothalamus, and the contralateral anterior olfactory nucleus (AON). These findings reaffirm that the axons from a TX OB make connections with some appropriate areas of the host brain and also indicate that axons from cells in the target areas of the host brain, including contralateral AON, reinnervate the TX OB.