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Effects of Target Neuron Loss on Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Adult Rat

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Date Issued:
2007
Summary:
Unlike most neurons in the adult nervous system, olfactory receptor neurons (ORN), found in the olfactory epithelium (OE), continually turnover in the adult rat. These neurons project their axons to the olfactory bulb which is their central target. The present study eliminated target neurons in the bulb using N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) to examine the effects of target loss on ORN survival and maturation. We compared the effects of the NMDA lesion to bulbectomy, a permanent surgical removal of the bulb, which simultaneously causes damage to ORN axons. We found that unlike bulbectomy, large numbers of dying OE cells were not observed at any time after the lesion. The number of immature neurons increased relative to the control side, and the number of mature neurons also slightly increased with time following NMDA lesion. Survival of ORNs does not seem to be significantly altered in the absence of its target.
Title: Effects of Target Neuron Loss on Olfactory Receptor Neurons in the Adult Rat.
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Name(s): Sultan, Krista K.
Guthrie, Kathleen M., Thesis advisor
Florida Atlantic University, Degree grantor
Type of Resource: text
Genre: Electronic Thesis Or Dissertation
Date Created: 2007
Date Issued: 2007
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Place of Publication: Boca Raton, Fla.
Physical Form: application/pdf
Extent: 60 p.
Language(s): English
Summary: Unlike most neurons in the adult nervous system, olfactory receptor neurons (ORN), found in the olfactory epithelium (OE), continually turnover in the adult rat. These neurons project their axons to the olfactory bulb which is their central target. The present study eliminated target neurons in the bulb using N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) to examine the effects of target loss on ORN survival and maturation. We compared the effects of the NMDA lesion to bulbectomy, a permanent surgical removal of the bulb, which simultaneously causes damage to ORN axons. We found that unlike bulbectomy, large numbers of dying OE cells were not observed at any time after the lesion. The number of immature neurons increased relative to the control side, and the number of mature neurons also slightly increased with time following NMDA lesion. Survival of ORNs does not seem to be significantly altered in the absence of its target.
Identifier: FA00000838 (IID)
Degree granted: Thesis (M.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2007.
Collection: FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection
Note(s): Includes bibliography.
Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine
Subject(s): Rats--Physiology
Neurophysiology
Apoptosis
Regeneration (Biology)
Held by: Florida Atlantic University Libraries
Persistent Link to This Record: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000838
Sublocation: Digital Library
Use and Reproduction: Copyright © is held by the author with permission granted to Florida Atlantic University to digitize, archive and distribute this item for non-profit research and educational purposes. Any reuse of this item in excess of fair use or other copyright exemptions requires permission of the copyright holder.
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Host Institution: FAU
Is Part of Series: Florida Atlantic University Digital Library Collections.