The Functional Organization of Inhibition in the Olfactory Bulb In Vivo

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DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): In the olfactory bulb, a single synapse separates afferent sensory input and the principal neurons that project to higher cortical areas. Nevertheless, the vast majority of cells and connections in this structure are devoted to two distinct inhibitory circuits: one located superficially in the glomerular layer and one involving granule cells in infraglomerular layers. Soon after they were initially described, it was suggested that these inhibitory circuits might provide center-surround inhibition in an analogous fashion to other primary sensory areas. Nevertheless, the manner in which these circuits are activated by olfactory stimuli in vivo has yet to be demonstrated, and their importance in shaping olfactory bulb output remains controversial. In this proposal, the spread of inhibition laterally from the sites of olfactory receptor neuron input through the glomerular layer will be directly visualized t determine how lateral inhibition at this level might contribute to olfactory information processing In addition, the postsynaptic effect of inhibition arising from both lateral circuits will be assesed in identified olfactory bulb output neurons. These experiments will provide crucial insights into the role of lateral inhibitory circuits in vivo, and, by determining the differential effects of thse circuits on the excitability of different classes of output neurons, a better understanding of parallel pathways projecting to higher brain structures.