Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Postnatal changes in the ultrastructure of the rat olfactory epithelium: the supranuclear region of the supporting cells

  • Published:
Cell and Tissue Research Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The present electron-microscopical study reports ultrastructural changes occurring in the supranuclear region of the supporting cells of the rat olfactory epithelium during the first 16 days of postnatal life. These changes are concerned with the enclosure of receptor cell dendrites and an increase in the amount of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, which has a specific distribution in the supporting cell. An increase in microvillous projections at the free cell surface is also observed. Moreover, this report demonstrates that the cytoarchitecture of the apical portion of the olfactory epithelium at the 16th day of postnatal life is similar, with respect to the relationship between supporting cells and receptor cell dendrites, to that of adult animals.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Breipohl W, Laugwitz HJ, Bornfeld N (1974) Topological relations between the dendrites of olfactory sensory cells and sustentacular cells in different vertebrates. An ultrastructural study. J Anat 117:89–94

    Google Scholar 

  • Brunjes PC, Frazier LL (1986) Maturation and plasticity in the olfactory system of vertebrates. Brain Res Rev 11:1–45

    Google Scholar 

  • Farbman AI, Menco BPhM (1986) Development of olfactory epithelium in the rat. In: Breipohl W (ed) Ontogeny of olfaction. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 45–56

    Google Scholar 

  • Getchell TV (1977a) Analysis of intracellular recordings from salamander olfactory epithelium. Brain Res 123:275–286

    Google Scholar 

  • Getchell TV (1977b) Mechanisms of excitation in vertebrate olfactory receptors and sustentacular cells. In: Katsuki Y, Sato M, Takagi SF, Oomura Y (eds) International Symposium of Food Intake and Chemical Senses. University of Tokyo Press, Tokyo, pp 3–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Getchell TV (1986) Functional properties of vertebrate olfactory receptor neurons. Physiol Rev 66:772–818

    Google Scholar 

  • Graziadei PPC (1973) The ultrastructure of vetebrates olfactory mucosa. In: Friedmann I (ed) The ultrastructure of sensory organs. North Holland, Amsterdam London, pp 269–305

    Google Scholar 

  • Masukawa LM, Kauer JS, Shepherd GM (1983) Intracellular recordings from two cell types in an in vitro preparation of the salamander olfactory epithelium. Neurosci Lett 35:59–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Masukawa LM, Hedlund B, Shepherd GM (1985) Electrophysiological properties of identified cells in the in vitro olfactory epithelium of the tiger salamander. J Neurosci 5:128–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Masukawa LM, Hedlund B, Shepherd GM (1985b) Changes in the electrical properties of olfactory epithelia cells in the tiger salamander after olfactory nerve transection. J Neurosci 5:136–141

    Google Scholar 

  • Meisami E, Louie J, Hudson R, Distel H (1990) A morphometric comparison of the olfactory epithelium of newborn and weanling rabbits. Cell Tissue Res 262: 89–97

    Google Scholar 

  • Menco BPhM, Farbman AI (1985a) Genesis of cilia and microvilli of rat nasal epithelia during pre-natal development. I. Olfactory epithelium, qualitative studies. J Cell Sci 78:283–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Menco BPhM, Farbman AI (1985a) Genesis of cillia and microvilli of rat nasal epithelia during pre-natal development. I. Olfactory epithelium, qualitative studies. J Cell Sci 78:283–310

    Google Scholar 

  • Menco BPhM, Farbman AI (1985b) Genesis of cilia and microvilli of rat nasal epithelia during pre-natal development. II. Olfactory epithelium, a morphometric analysis. J Cell Sci 78:311–336

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds ES (1963) The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J Cell Biol 17:208–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Schmidt U (1986) Electrophysiological investigations on the development of the olfactory system in laboratory mice. In: Breipohl W (ed) Ontogeny of olfaction. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York, pp 117–126

    Google Scholar 

  • Seifert K (1970) Die Ultrastruktur des Riechepithels beim Makrosmatiker. Eine elektronenmikroskopische Untersuchung. In: Bargmann W, Doerr W (eds) Normal und pathologische Anatomie, vol 21. Thieme, Stuttgart, pp 1–99

    Google Scholar 

  • Shafa F, Shineh SN, Bidanjiri A (1981) Development of spontaneous activity in the olfactory bulb neurons of postnatal rat. Brain Res 223:409–412

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Anatomie, Medizinische Universität zu Lübeck, Ratzeburger Allee 160, W-2400, Lübeck 1, Federal Republic of Germany

    Andrés S. Mendoza & Wolfgang Kühnel

Authors
  1. Andrés S. Mendoza
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Wolfgang Kühnel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mendoza, A.S., Kühnel, W. Postnatal changes in the ultrastructure of the rat olfactory epithelium: the supranuclear region of the supporting cells. Cell Tissue Res 265, 193–196 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318154

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00318154

Key words

Search

Navigation