The proposed study involves the use of the accessory olfactory system (AOS) and its processing of pheromonal stimuli as a model system within which to investigate the role of spatial organization in the function of the nervous system. The key question for any sensory system is the physiological mechanisms underlying signal detection, encoding and processing. The AOS represents one of the two main components of the olfactory Systems. It seems to specialize in the detection and processing of sexually relevant signals and the transmission of these signals to other brain areas, several of which are important for modulating reproductive function. The present study aims to investigate the role of spatial organization in pheromonal reception in the VNO and the spatial nature of the projection from the VNO to AO using both electrical and chemical stimulation, and electrophysiological recording techniques. In addition, since sexual experience seems to determine the relative importance of VNO input, parallel experiments will be carried out in experienced and inexperienced males. The present studies will fill in some of the gaps in our knowledge of sensory information processing in the olfactory system.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD)
Type
Postdoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F32)
Project #
7F32DC000241-03
Application #
2603235
Study Section
Sensory Disorders and Language Study Section (CMS)
Project Start
1997-07-01
Project End
Budget Start
1997-07-01
Budget End
1998-03-15
Support Year
3
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Massachusetts Medical School Worcester
Department
Anatomy/Cell Biology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
660735098
City
Worcester
State
MA
Country
United States
Zip Code
01655
Reichenbach, Tobias; Stefanovic, Aleksandra; Nin, Fumiaki et al. (2012) Waves on Reissner's membrane: a mechanism for the propagation of otoacoustic emissions from the cochlea. Cell Rep 1:374-84
Andor-Ardó, Daniel; Keen, Erica C; Hudspeth, A J et al. (2012) Fast, automated implementation of temporally precise blind deconvolution of multiphasic excitatory postsynaptic currents. PLoS One 7:e38198
Fisher, Jonathan A N; Kowalik, Lukasz; Hudspeth, A J (2011) Imaging electrical resonance in hair cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 108:1651-6
LeBoeuf, Adria C; Ó Maoiléidigh, D; Hudspeth, A J (2011) Divalent counterions tether membrane-bound carbohydrates to promote the cohesion of auditory hair bundles. Biophys J 101:1316-25
Kozlov, Andrei S; Baumgart, Johannes; Risler, Thomas et al. (2011) Forces between clustered stereocilia minimize friction in the ear on a subnanometre scale. Nature 474:376-9
Kowalik, Lukasz; Hudspeth, A J (2011) A search for factors specifying tonotopy implicates DNER in hair-cell development in the chick's cochlea. Dev Biol 354:221-31
Uthaiah, Revathy C; Hudspeth, A J (2010) Molecular anatomy of the hair cell's ribbon synapse. J Neurosci 30:12387-99
McDermott Jr, Brian M; Asai, Yukako; Baucom, Jessica M et al. (2010) Transgenic labeling of hair cells in the zebrafish acousticolateralis system. Gene Expr Patterns 10:113-8
Li, Geng-Lin; Keen, Erica; Andor-Ardó, Daniel et al. (2009) The unitary event underlying multiquantal EPSCs at a hair cell's ribbon synapse. J Neurosci 29:7558-68