Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, United States; Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, 3901 Rainbow Boulevard, Kansas City, KS 66160, United States.
Stowers Institute for Medical Research, 1000 East 50th Street, Kansas City, MO 64110, United States.
Exp Neurol. 2017 Jan;287(Pt 3):395-408. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2016.06.001. Epub 2016 Jun 3.
The olfactory sensory neurons are the only neurons in the mammalian nervous system that not only regenerate naturally and in response to injury, but also project to specific targets in the brain. The stem cells in the olfactory epithelium commit to both neuronal and non-neuronal lineages depending on the environmental conditions. They provide a continuous supply of new neurons. A newly generated neuron must express a specific odorant receptor gene and project to a central target consist of axons expressing the same receptor type. Recent studies have provided insights into this highly regulated, complex process. However, the molecular mechanisms that determine the regenerative capacity of stem cells, and the ability of newly generated neurons in directing their axons toward specific targets, remain elusive. Here we review progresses and controversies in the field and offer testable models.
嗅觉感觉神经元是哺乳动物神经系统中唯一一种不仅能自然再生和对损伤作出反应，而且还投射到大脑中的特定靶位的神经元。嗅上皮中的干细胞根据环境条件而分化为神经元和非神经元谱系。它们提供源源不断的新神经元。一个新生成的神经元必须表达特定的气味受体基因，并投射到一个由表达相同受体类型的轴突组成的中枢靶位。最近的研究提供了对这个高度调控、复杂过程的深入了解。然而，决定干细胞再生能力的分子机制，以及新生成的神经元引导其轴突向特定靶位的能力，仍然难以捉摸。在这里，我们综述了该领域的进展和争议，并提出了可测试的模型。
