• Applied Microscopy
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• v.50
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• pp.18.1-18.7
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• 2020

The olfactory anatomy and histology of Lethenteron reissneri were researched using a stereo microscope, a light microscope, and a scanning electron microscope. As in other lampreys, it shows same characters as follows: i) a single olfactory organ, ii) a single tubular nostril, iii) a single olfactory chamber with gourd-like form, iv) a nasal valve, v) a nasopharyngeal pouch, vi) a sensory epithelium (SE) of continuous distribution, vii) a supporting cells with numerous long cilia, viii) an accessory olfactory organ. However, the description of a pseudostratified columnar layer in the SE and Non SE is a first record, not reported in sea lamprey Petromyzon marinus. In particular, both 19 to 20 lamellae in number and olfactory receptor neuron's quarter ciliary length of the knob diameter differ from those of P. marinus. From these results, it might be considered that the olfactory organ of L. reissneri shows well adaptive structure of a primitive fish to slow flowing water with gravel, pebbles, and sand and a hiding habit into sand bottom at daytime. The lamellar number and neuron's ciliary length may be a meaningful taxonomic character for the class Petromyzonida.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.535-539
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• 2015

Olfactory stimulation activates multiple signaling cascades in order to mediate activity-driven changes in gene expression that promote neuronal survival. To date, the mechanisms involved in activity-dependent olfactory neuronal survival have yet to be fully elucidated. In the current study, we observed that olfactory sensory stimulation, which caused neuronal activation, promoted activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway and the expression of Bcl-2, which were responsible for olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) survival. We demonstrated that Bcl-2 expression increased after odorant stimulation both in vivo and in vitro. We also showed that odorant stimulation activated Akt, and that Akt activation was completely blocked by incubation with both a PI3K inhibitor (LY294002) and Akt1 small interfering RNA. Moreover, blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway diminished the odorantinduced Bcl-2 expression, as well as the effects on odorant-induced ORN survival. A temporal difference was noted between the activation of Akt1 and the expression of Bcl-2 following odorant stimulation. Blocking the PI3K/Akt pathway did not affect ORN survival in the time range prior to the increase in Bcl-2 expression, implying that these two events, activation of the PI3K pathway and Bcl-2 induction, were tightly connected to promote post-translational ORN survival. Collectively, our results indicated that olfactory activity activated PI3K/Akt, induced Bcl-2, and promoted long term ORN survival as a result.

• Applied Microscopy
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.11-16
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• 2018

For Odontamblyopus lacepedii with small and turbid eyes, the gross structure and histology of the olfactory organ, which is important for its survival and protection of the receptor neuron in estuarial environment and its ecological habit, was investigated using a stereo, light and scanning electron microscopes. Externally, the paired olfactory organs with two nostrils are located identically on each side of the snout. These nostrils are positioned at the anterior tip of the upper lip (anterior nostril) and just below eyes covered with the epidermis (posterior nostril). Internally, this is built of an elongated olfactory chamber and two accessory nasal sacs. In histology, the olfactory chamber is elliptical in shape, and lined by the sensory epithelium and the non-sensory epithelium. The sensory epithelium of a pseudostratified layer consists of olfactory receptor neurons, supporting cells, basal cells and lymphatic cells. The non-sensory epithelium of a stratified layer has swollen stratified epithelial cells and mucous cells with acidic and neutral sulfomucin. From these results, we confirmed the olfactory organ of O. lacepedii is adapted to its ecological habit as well as its habitat with burrows at the muddy field with standing and murky waters.

• The Korean Journal of Zoology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.54-64
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• 1996

Normal development of the olfactory placode was studied to describe the sequence of events involved in the development of the olfactory placode. It has been primarily concerned with the morphological differentiation of the sensory neurons, their initial growth, maturation patterns and the contacts of their axons with the primitive prosencephalic vesicle. The olfactory organ first appears at stage 23 as a paired thickening of the two ectodermal layers: the superficial non-nervous layer (NNL) and the inner nervous layer (NL). Receptor cells differentiate from the NL and the supporting cells develop from the NNL. After stage 26 the placodal cells begin to migrate toward the epithelial surface between the NNL cells and their apical processes reach the surface at stage 28. As the apical process reaches the epithelial surface, basal processes (presumptive axons) sprout from the base of the NL cells at stage 29/30. They penetrate the underlying telencephalon by stage 32. Sensory synaptic contacts first appear at stage 37/38. Some placodal cells remain at the olfactory epithelium as basal cells while other placodal cells differentiate into olfactory neurons. The results confirmed that neurons originate exclusively from the nervous layer of the ectoderm while supporting cells originate from the NNL layer. The results also indicate that the development of olfactory neuron is independent of information from the target ftssue.

• Development and Reproduction
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• v.10 no.3
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• pp.159-168
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• 2006

Rodents and many other mammals have two chemosensory systems that mediate responses to pheromones, the main and accessory olfactory system, MOS and AOS, respectively. The chemosensory neurons associated with the MOS are located in the main olfactory epithelium, while those associated with the AOS are located in the vomeronasal organ(VNO). Pheromonal odorants access the lumen of the VNO via canals in the roof of the mouth, and are largely thought to be nonvolatile. The main pheromone receptor proteins consist of two superfamilies, V1Rs and V2Rs, that are structurally distinct and unrelated to the olfactory receptors expressed in the main olfactory epithelium. These two type of receptors are seven transmembrane domain G-protein coupled proteins(V1R with $G_{{\alpha}i2}$, V2R with $G_{0\;{\alpha}}$). V2Rs are co-expressed with nonclassical MHC Ib genes(M10 and other 8 M1 family proteins). Other important molecular component of VNO neuron is a TrpC2, a cation channel protein of transient receptor potential(TRP) family and thought to have a crucial role in signal transduction. There are four types of pheromones in mammalian chemical communication - primers, signalers, modulators and releasers. Responses to these chemosignals can vary substantially within and between individuals. This variability can stem from the modulating effects of steroid hormones and/or non-steroid factors such as neurotransmitters on olfactory processing. Such modulation frequently augments or facilitates the effects that prevailing social and environmental conditions have on the reproductive axis. The best example is the pregnancy block effect(Bruce effect), caused by testosterone-dependent major urinary proteins(MUPs) in male mouse urine. Intriguingly, mouse GnRH neurons receive pheromone signals from both odor and pheromone relays in the brain and may also receive common odor signals. Though it is quite controversial, recent studies reveal a complex interplay between reproduction and other functions in which GnRH neurons appear to integrate information from multiple sources and modulate a variety of brain functions.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.61 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2022

Moths have a well-developed sex pheromone communication system. Male moths exhibit an extremely sensitive and selective sex pheromone detection system so that they can detect the sex pheromone produced by conspecific females and locate them for successful mating. Using the pheromone detection system, male moths display characteristic stereotypic behavioral responses, flying upwind to follow intermittent filamentous pheromone strands in pheromone plume. The chemical composition of female sex pheromone in moths, typically comprised of multiple compounds, is species-specific. Male moths contain specialized pheromone receptor neurons on the antennae to detect conspecific sex pheromone accurately, and distinguish it from the pheromones produced by other species. The signals from pheromone receptor neurons are integrated and induce relevant behavior from the male moths. Male moths also contain olfactory sensory neurons in pheromone sensilla, specialized for pheromone-related behavioral antagonist compounds, which can enhance discrimination between conspecific and heterospecific pheromones. Here we review reports on the sex pheromone detection system in male moths and their related responses, and suggest future research direction.

• Korean Journal of Ichthyology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2021

Using stereo, light, and scanning electron microscopes, we researched the anatomical and histological structure of Chaenogobius gulosus's olfactory organ and compared it to those of sympatric gobies Luciogobius guttatus and Favonigobius gymnauchen. Results revealed the following common characteristics: i) tubular anterior nostril (AN) and flat posterior nostril (PN), ii) a single longitudinal lamella, iii) two accessory nasal sacs (ANS, ethmoidal and lacrimal), iv) abundant sensory epithelium lymphatic cells (LC), v) an eosinophil cell, and vi) a ciliary length a quarter of the knob diameter in the olfactory receptor neuron (ORN). Some characteristics are specific to C. gulosus and different from the other two gobies: i) 0.5~1.0 mm AN and 0.2~0.5 mm PN (vs. 0.2~0.3 mm and 0.2~0.3 mm in L. guttatus; 0.2~0.4 mm and 0.1~0.3 mm in F. gymnauchen), ii) two ANS (vs. absence in L. guttatus; two in F. gymnauchen), iii) abundant LC (vs. low in L. guttatus and F. gymnauchen), iv) low density non-sensory cilia on the lamellar surface (vs. high in L. guttatus; low in F. gymnauchen), and v) a quarter ciliary length to knob diameter ratio in the ORN (vs. mixture of a quarter to equal ratio in L. guttatus; two or three times in F. gymnauchen). From these results, we confirmed the C. gulosus olfactory organ has adapted anatomically and histologically to the sand-rock tidal zone.