The establishment of the complex and precise organization of the vertebrate nervous system relies on the proper guidance of neuronal axons to their targets. In the olfactory system of vertebrates, axons of olfactory sensory neurons project to specific glomeruli in the olfactory bulb. The focus of the research outlined in this proposal is to investigate the mechanisms of axon guidance of olfactory sensory neurons to the olfactory bulb in zebrafish. The advantages offered by the olfactory system of zebrafish, namely a stereotyped glomerular map which is invariant between individuals and in vivo imaging in real time of olfactory neuron axon guidance, will facilitate a detailed mechanistic dissection of axon guidance in vivo.
The aims of this proposal are: 1) To investigate the formation of the spatial map of projections to the olfactory bulb in zebrafish. The hypothesis that olfactory receptor neurons expressing the same receptor converge to one or a few glomeruli in zebrafish will be tested. 2) To examine the role of olfactory pioneer axons in the proper guidance of olfactory receptor neurons to the olfactory bulb. These studies will provide a characterization of the map of neuronal connectivity in the zebrafish olfactory bulb, which will be valuable for deciphering the coding of olfactory information in vertebrates, and will have practical implications for a comprehensive analysis of the process of axon guidance 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 #
5F32DC005290-02
Application #
6622395
Study Section
Communication Disorders Review Committee (CDRC)
Program Officer
Sklare, Dan
Project Start
2002-03-01
Project End
Budget Start
2003-03-01
Budget End
2004-02-29
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2003
Total Cost
$46,420
Indirect Cost
Name
University of California Berkeley
Department
Biochemistry
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
124726725
City
Berkeley
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
94704