Olfactory experience accelerates glomerular refinement in the mammalian olfactory bulb.
Primary olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) impart both molecular and functional organization to the olfactory bulb. Because OSNs can be selectively activated by odorants in vivo, we sought to determine whether odorant experience alters the cellular dynamics of specific OSNs or their axonal projections. Using mice, we found that odorant stimulation associated with behavioral conditioning influenced OSN wiring by accelerating glomerular refinement independent of OSN number; furthermore, this wiring was strongly associated with olfactory learning.
Developmental Neural Plasticity Unit, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA.
Mariel A
MA
Kerr
Leonardo
L
Belluscio
D000447:Aldehydes / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000502:physiology; D003216:Conditioning, Operant / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009812:Odorants; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D012903:Smell / Q000502:physiology*
D000447:Aldehydes; C031639:caprylic aldehyde