Formation of glomerular maps in the olfactory system.
Sensory perception relies on the decoding of external stimuli into an internal neuronal representation, which requires precise connections between the periphery and the brain. In the olfactory system the axons of chemosensory neurons with the same odorant receptor coalesce into common glomeruli in the olfactory bulb, forming a receptor-topic map. The creation of this map begins prenatally when axons navigate towards the bulb, resort in a receptor-specific manner and terminate in a broad area interdigitated with other axon populations; distinct glomeruli form postnatally. While the initial process of glomerulization requires mainly molecular determinants, activity-dependent processes lead to a refinement of glomerular organization.
Strotmann
Jörg
J
University of Hohenheim, Institute of Physiology, Garbenstrasse 30, D-70599 Stuttgart, Germany. strotman@uni-hohenheim.de
Breer
Heinz
H
D000818:Animals; D001369:Axons / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D051379:Mice; D008954:Models, Biological; D009830:Olfactory Bulb / Q000196:embryology; D009832:Olfactory Nerve / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009833:Olfactory Pathways / Q000196:embryology*; D018034:Olfactory Receptor Neurons / Q000196:embryology; D018035:Receptors, Odorant / Q000502:physiology
D018035:Receptors, Odorant