Perireceptor Modulation in the Olfactory Mucosa

到达脊椎动物鼻子的气味被困在一层 嗅觉粘液，它提供了一个微环境， 气味分子和嗅觉分子之间的初始相互作用 受体细胞表面。 这种粘液在决定 刺激的溶解度和扩散性，并且可以改变 嗅觉受体神经元对气味的反应。 的 粘液是由附属腺分泌的，而不是由受体分泌的 它的成分是可变的;它是一个周边感受器 嗅觉功能的调节剂。 神经机制调节 粘液的分泌和组成又可以 受到气味刺激的影响。 为了充分了解嗅觉 受体功能，这些特性和机制必须是 知道的 这个项目将实验性地操纵嗅觉 并采用免疫组化和药理学方法探讨 气味和分泌物之间的关系。 鉴定 粘膜的神经支配通路将与 参与调节的神经递质的表征 分泌物。 将测试气味剂和药理学试剂 刺激神经调节剂释放的能力， 激活分泌。 功能性碳水化合物将是 在分泌产物中鉴定出， 分泌细胞也将被鉴定以与那些 在其他粘液分泌系统中发现。 该项目涉及一个 独特的方法来调制的重要课题的感觉 投入和结果对于我们如何思考 嗅觉系统和其他感觉受体的调节， 将军

Odors coming to the nose of vertebrates are trapped in a film of olfactory mucus, which provides a microenvironment for the initial interactions between odorant molecules and the olfactory receptor cell surfaces. This mucus is important in determining the solubility and diffusibility of the stimuli, and can change the response of olfactory receptor neurons to odorants. The mucus is secreted by accessory glands rather than the receptors themselves and its composition is variable; it is a perireceptor modulator of olfactory function. Neural mechanisms that regulate the secretion and composition of the mucus may in turn be influenced by odorant stimuli. To fully understand olfactory receptor function, these properties and mechanisms must be known. This project will experimentally manipulate the olfactory mucosa, and use immunohistochemistry and pharmacology to explore the relations between odorants and secretions. Identification of the innervating pathways to the mucosa will be combined with characterization of the neurotransmitters involved in regulation of secretion. Odorants and pharmacological agents will be tested for their ability to stimulate neuromodulator release and activate secretion. Functional carbohydrate compounds will be identified in the secretory products, and proteins within the secretory cells will also be identified to compare with those found in other mucus-secreting systems. This project involves a unique approach to the important topic of modulation of sensory input, and results will be important to how we think about olfactory systems, and modulation of other sensory receptors in general.