Pathways that drive the death of olfactory neurons by insult (bulbectomy, intranasal chemical lesion, pharmacological lesion of target) and also during normal turnover are currently being examined by Cath Cowan, Teresa Wang, France Fung, Nicole Janzen and Christine Carson. Cath is examining the interplay between caspases and their intracellular regulators during olfactory neuronal degeneration at the biochemical and molecular level. Teresa and France are testing transgenic, viral expression and pharmacological ways to manipulate the pattern of ORN death and replacement using excitotoxicity. Christine is testing the role of caspase 8 and AIF in how ORNs change in their vulnerability to undergo apoptosis from their progenitor state, through to adulthood, using a combination of viral and conditional knockout approaches.

Caspase 9, OMP and synaptophysin - forming lurid colors together at the glomerular synapse

The apoptosis group is working closely with the progenitor and ensheathing cell groups to understand how ORNs at different stages of development decide to develop further or undergo apoptosis, depending on local and distant cell-cell interactions.

Funding: The National Institutes of Health and by a research collaboration with Merck Frosst of Canada