The Anterior Olfactory Nucleus

鼻腔中的嗅觉感觉神经元将气味信息发送到嗅球， 在这个化学感受系统中传递。然后，灯泡中的二尖瓣和簇状细胞将信息传递到 嗅前核（AON）和梨状皮质（PC）。AON在以下过程中起着至关重要的作用 嗅觉刺激：它提供从灯泡到PC的前馈信息，并参与逆行 信息从大脑皮层流向大脑球。重要的是，它也是相互交流的点。 在左右嗅球和皮层之间因此，它在加工过程中起着重要作用。 嗅觉信息事实上，如果不了解嗅觉前脑的功能， 更深入地了解AON的电路和功能， 拟议的研究集中在一个单一的概念：了解AON的组织。拟议 工作将a）揭示来自嗅球的传入输入的精细尺度形态，B）检查 AON中可能的嗅觉编码策略，c）展示了AON的内在组织和连接， （d）阐明区域产出模式的差异。每项研究都考察了 相互关联但又相互独立的问题。此外，每项研究都使用了最先进的 技术，将精细的形态学分析与更广泛的功能研究相关联。目标是开始 了解区域组织的变化，并调查存在不同组织的可能性， 神经元表型这些结果将使该地区从分子生物学角度进行进一步研究。 perspective.我们收集的信息将是重要的原因有很多，包括我们的能力， 了解并模拟嗅觉功能。通过收集AON细胞数量的基本数据， 球传入接触，AON内存在什么样的突触模式，以及输出通路是否分叉或 我们将开始了解组成嗅觉系统的更大回路。 相关性：a）对AON的更全面理解也具有临床相关性，因为 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的变化可能显著导致嗅觉功能的缺陷， B）感觉系统对人类在世界中导航至关重要， 互动和学习。目前的研究将为这一过程提供实质性的启示。

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 processingof 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.