The Anterior Olfactory Nucleus

描述（由申请人提供）：鼻腔中的嗅觉感觉神经元将气味信息发送到嗅球，嗅球是该化学感觉系统中的第一个中枢中继。然后，球中的二尖瓣和簇状细胞将信息传递到前嗅核（AON）和梨状皮质（PC）。AON在嗅觉刺激的处理中起着至关重要的作用：它提供了从球到PC的前馈信息，并参与了从皮层到球的逆行信息流。重要的是，它也是左右嗅球和皮层之间的相互交流点。因此，它在处理嗅觉信息中起着重要作用。事实上，如果不深入了解AON的电路和功能，就不可能理解嗅觉前脑的功能。拟议的研究集中在一个单一的概念：了解AON的组织。拟议的工作将a）揭示从嗅球传入的精细尺度形态，B）检查可能的嗅觉编码策略在AON，c）展示该区域的内在组织和连接，和d）阐明区域输出模式的差异。每一项研究都考察了这个问题的相互关联但又相互独立的方面。此外，每项研究都使用最先进的技术，将精细的形态学分析与更广泛的功能研究相关联。我们的目标是开始了解区域组织的变化，并调查不同的神经元表型存在的可能性。这些结果将使该地区从分子生物学的角度进行进一步的研究。我们收集的信息将是重要的原因有很多，包括我们理解和建模嗅觉功能的能力。通过收集每个球传入接触的AON细胞的数量，AON内存在什么样的突触模式，以及输出通路是发散还是会聚的基本数据，我们将开始了解包括嗅觉系统在内的更大的回路。相关性：a）对AON的更完整的理解也具有临床相关性，因为有迹象表明该区域的病理变化发生在阿尔茨海默病和帕金森病中，这表明AON的变化可能显著有助于在衰老中发生的嗅觉功能的充分记录的缺陷。B）感觉系统对于人类在世界中导航、互动和学习至关重要。目前的研究将为这一过程提供实质性的启示。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Olfactory sensory neurons in the nasal cavity send odor information to the olfactory bulb, the first central relay in this chemosensory system. Mitral and tufted cells in the bulb then transmit the information to the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON) and piriform cortex (PC). The AON plays a crucial role in the processing of olfactory stimuli: it provides feedforward information from the bulb to the PC, and is involved in the retrograde flow of information from the cortex to the bulb. Importantly, it also serves as the point of intercommunication between the left and right olfactory bulbs and cortices. As such, it plays a fundamental role in the processing olfactory information. Indeed, it will be impossible to understand the function of the olfactory forebrain without greater insight into the circuitry and function of the AON. The proposed studies focus on a single concept: understanding the organization of the AON. The proposed work will a) uncover the fine-scale morphology of the afferent inputs from the olfactory bulb, b) examine possible olfactory coding strategies in the AON, c) demonstrate the intrinsic organization and connections of the region, and d) elucidate differences in regional output patterns. Each of the studies examines interlocking but independent aspects of the problem. Furthermore, each study uses state-of-the-art techniques, correlating refined morphological analyses with broader functional studies. The goal is to begin to understand variations in regional organization and investigate the possibility of the existence of different neuronal phenotypes. The results will make the area accessible for further study from a molecular biological perspective. The information we gather will be important for many reasons, including our ability to understand and model olfactory function. By gathering fundamental data on the number of AON cells each bulb afferent contacts, what synaptic patterns exist within the AON, and whether output pathways diverge or converge, we will begin to understand the larger circuit that comprises the olfactory system. Relevance: a) A more complete understanding of the AON also has clinical relevance as there are indications that pathological changes in the region occur in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, suggesting that changes in the AON may significantly contribute to the well-documented deficits in olfactory function that occurs in aging, b) Sensory systems are crucial for humans to navigate through the world, interact and learn. The present research will shed substantial light on this process.