4 research outputs found
Naris occlusion alters transductory protein immunoreactivity in olfactory epithelium
We have recently shown that unilateral naris
occlusion (UNO) causes an increase in olfactory marker
protein (OMP) immunoreactivity (IR) in mouse
olfactory sensory neurons (OSN) from the occluded side
of the nasal cavity and a decrease in OMP-IR on the
non-occluded side, relative to controls. Given OMP's
demonstrated role in olfactory modulation, these OMPIR
changes have been interpreted as a compensatory
response by OSNs to odor deprivation on the occluded
side and to supernormal exposure to odor on the nonoccluded
side of the nasal cavity. In the current study, we
examined the developmental timing and the regional
distribution of this process throughout the nasal cavity
using immunocytochemistry. Results demonstrate that
OMP-IR diverges in OSNs from the occluded side
relative to the non-occluded side of the nasal cavity
within eleven days after UNO, with statistically
significant differences measurable after 17 days (n=16).
We also measured relative levels of the Type 4
phosphodiesterase (PDE4A), another potential olfactory
modulator, in nasal cavity tissue from UNO (n=8) and
untreated mice (n=9) using western blots and
immunocytochemistry. Like OMP, PDE4A-IR increased
on the occluded side of the nasal cavity after UNO.
Finally, we used immunocytochemistry to assess relative
levels of olfactory-specific adenylyl cyclase (ACIII, n=4)
and G-protein (Golf, n=2) in OSNs from the occluded
and non-occluded sides of the nasal cavity of UNO mice.
Following UNO, ACIII but not Golf -IR levels diverged
comparing the occluded to the non-occluded sides of the
nasal cavity. Taken together, our findings provide
support for the previously unknown phenomenon of
compensatory responses by OSNs to odor environment