We are interested in the development of the olfactory circuit and try to understand how this circuit affords the discriminary power of the system. We are particularly interested in how neural activity affects this developmental process.

   We use genetic methods to alter neural activity and examine the effects of altered neural activity on axonal projections of the olfactory sensory cells. Ectopic expression of the Kir2.1 potassium channel silences olfactory neurons and profoundly delay the growth of their axons. Furthermore, these axons have lost their precision in targeting to a specific glomerulus in the olfactory bulb. Neurons expression the P2 odorant receptor projects to numerous glomeruli rather than a single one as seen in the wild-type animals.

 

 

Silencing Olfactory Neurons Causes Mistargeting of Their Axons