Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, University of Utah, 420 Chipeta Way Ste, 1700 Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
Semin Cell Dev Biol. 2013 Jan;24(1):58-70. doi: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.09.001. Epub 2012 Sep 15.
Despite studies dating back 30 or more years showing modulation of odorant responses at the level of the olfactory epithelium, most descriptions of the olfactory system infer that odorant signals make their way from detection by cilia on olfactory sensory neurons to the olfactory bulb unaltered. Recent identification of multiple subtypes of microvillar cells and identification of neuropeptide and neurotransmitter expression in the olfactory mucosa add to the growing body of literature for peripheral modulation in the sense of smell. Complex mechanisms including perireceptor events, modulation of sniff rates, and changes in the properties of sensory neurons match the sensitivity of olfactory sensory neurons to the external odorant environment, internal nutritional status, reproductive status, and levels of arousal or stress. By furthering our understanding of the players mediating peripheral olfaction, we may open the door to novel approaches for modulating the sense of smell in both health and disease.
尽管早在 30 多年前的研究就表明可以在嗅上皮水平调节气味反应，但大多数关于嗅觉系统的描述都推断，气味信号从嗅感觉神经元纤毛的检测开始，到嗅球都没有改变。最近发现了多种微绒毛细胞亚型，并在嗅黏膜中鉴定出神经肽和神经递质的表达，这为嗅觉的外周调节增加了越来越多的文献。包括受体前事件、嗅探率调节以及感觉神经元特性变化在内的复杂机制，使嗅觉感觉神经元能够适应外部气味环境、内部营养状况、生殖状况以及兴奋或应激水平的变化。通过进一步了解介导外周嗅觉的参与者，我们可能为在健康和疾病中调节嗅觉的新方法打开大门。
