MATURATION AND PLASTICITY IN THE OLFACTORY SYSTEM

描述（改编自研究者摘要）：实验 建议检查受体和初级中枢的发育， 嗅觉系统中的继电器。嗅觉系统有许多可取的 神经成熟机制研究的特点。它 是高度有组织的，有清晰的分层和良好的研究布线 图，便于定量检查，使微妙的 变化相对容易辨别。此外，许多有趣的 早期的可塑性形式已经被证明，包括大量的 对气味类型或数量的早期处理的敏感性 刺激可用。例如，早期单侧气味剥夺 被反复证明导致了一些最大的 在中枢神经系统中观察到的经验引起的变化。的 首席研究员和同事们参与了研究， 功能性剥夺嗅觉引起的级联变化 系统，以了解早期大脑功能如何指导正常 大脑成熟该研究将继续量化 检查正常人发生的连续发育变化 和功能受限的动物具体来说，校长 研究人员建议检查：1）发生在 当气味刺激量突然增加时， 降低考试将集中在基因组的快速调节 表达和蛋白质合成，以确定哪些细胞群 对传入神经的操纵有反应2)短暂间隔的影响 对球茎生长的感官限制。可逆鼻孔 闭塞将用于测试灯泡中的信号通路， 研究恢复正常增长模式的可能性。

DESCRIPTION (Adapted from the Investigator's Abstract): The experiments proposed examine the development of the receptors and primary central relays in the olfactory system. The olfactory system has many desirable characteristics for studies of the mechanisms of neural maturation. It is highly organized, with clear lamination and a well-studied wiring diagram, facilitating quantitative examinations and making subtle alterations relatively easy to discern. Furthermore, many interesting forms of early plasticity have been demonstrated, including substantial sensitivity to early manipulations of either the type or amount of odor stimuli available. For example, early unilateral odor deprivation has been repeatedly demonstrated to result in some of the largest experience-induced changes observed in the central nervous system. The principal investigator and colleagues have been involved in studying the cascade of changes induced by functionally depriving the olfactory system in order to understand how early brain function directs normal brain maturation. The proposed research continues the quantitative examination of the sequential developmental changes occurring in normal and functionally restricted animals. Specifically, the principal investigator proposes to examine: 1) Rapid changes that occur in the olfactory bulb when the amount of odorant stimulation is abruptly decreased. Examinations will focus on rapid regulation of genomic expression and protein synthesis to identify which cell populations respond to afferent manipulations. 2) The effects of brief intervals of sensory restriction on the growth of the bulb. Reversible naris occlusion will be used to test signaling pathways in the bulb and to examine the possibility of recovery of normal growth patterns.