Previous research has focused primarily on the neurophysiological properties of olfactory receptor neurons. As a result of this research, it became clear that other cells in the olfactory mucosa influence the response properties of the receptor neurons. These cells are the secretory elements in the olfactory mucosa, the sustentacular cells and the acinar cells of the olfactory glands. It is the long-term aim of this laboratory to investigate the integrated physiological activity of the vertebrate olfactory mucosa including the contribution of the secretory cells.
The specific aim of the proposed experiments is to investigate the odorant and neuropharmacological regulation of secretion in the sustentacular cells and the acinar cells of the olfactory glands. The short-term objectives to be accomplished within the next five years are: a. to investigate the adrenergic regulation of glandular secretion using neuropharmacological and computer-assisted morphometric techniques, b. to identify the adrenergic innervation of the olfactory glands and/or the capillary vasculature using fluorescence histochemical techniques, c. to study the odorant regulation of secretion using light microscopic techniques, d. to characterize the cytological manifestations of secretory activity using transmission electron microscopic techniques and e. to investigate the physiological properties of secretion in short-circuit current studies employing an Ussing chamber-type preparation. The results of the proposed experiments will establish the cellular basis for the regulation of secretion on which to study the integrated physiological activity of the olfactory mucosa including that of the olfactory receptor neurons and the prereceptor events in vertebrate olfaction. The neuropharmacological studies in particular are directly relevant to clinical trials of drug treatment for rhinorrhea and peripheral rhinitis.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01NS016340-08
Application #
3396828
Study Section
Communication Sciences and Disorders (CMS)
Project Start
1980-07-01
Project End
1993-06-30
Budget Start
1987-07-01
Budget End
1988-06-30
Support Year
8
Fiscal Year
1987
Total Cost
Indirect Cost
Name
Wayne State University
Department
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
City
Detroit
State
MI
Country
United States
Zip Code
48202
Kern, R C; Kerr, T P; Getchell, T V (1991) Ultrastructural localization of Na+/K(+)-ATPase in rodent olfactory epithelium. Brain Res 546:8-17
Getchell, T V; Grillo, M; Tate, S S et al. (1990) Expression of catfish amino acid taste receptors in Xenopus oocytes. Neurochem Res 15:449-56
Zielinski, B S; Getchell, M L; Wenokur, R L et al. (1989) Ultrastructural localization and identification of adrenergic and cholinergic nerve terminals in the olfactory mucosa. Anat Rec 225:232-45
Getchell, M L; Bouvet, J F; Finger, T E et al. (1989) Peptidergic regulation of secretory activity in amphibian olfactory mucosa: immunohistochemistry, neural stimulation, and pharmacology. Cell Tissue Res 256:381-9
Zielinski, B S; Getchell, M L; Getchell, T V (1988) Ultrastructural characteristics of sustentacular cells in control and odorant-treated olfactory mucosae of the salamander. Anat Rec 221:769-79
Wang, P M; Kraman, S S (1988) Construction of a flexible airway model for teaching. Anat Rec 221:780-1
el-Bohy, A; Cavanaugh, J M; Getchell, M L et al. (1988) Localization of substance P and neurofilament immunoreactive fibers in the lumbar facet joint capsule and supraspinous ligament of the rabbit. Brain Res 460:379-82
Getchell, T V (1988) Induction of odorant-evoked current transients in Xenopus oocytes injected with mRNA isolated from the olfactory mucosa of Rana pipiens. Neurosci Lett 91:217-21
Getchell, M L; Zielinski, B; DeSimone, J A et al. (1987) Odorant stimulation of secretory and neural processes in the salamander olfactory mucosa. J Comp Physiol A 160:155-68
Joshi, H; Getchell, M L; Zielinski, B et al. (1987) Spectrophotometric determination of cation concentrations in olfactory mucus. Neurosci Lett 82:321-6

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