RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Neuroblast long-term cell cultures from human fetal olfactory epithelium respond to odors
JF The Journal of Neuroscience
JO J. Neurosci.
FD Society for Neuroscience
SP 4382
OP 4394
DO 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.15-06-04382.1995
VO 15
IS 6
A1 GB Vannelli
A1 F Ensoli
A1 R Zonefrati
A1 Y Kubota
A1 A Arcangeli
A1 A Becchetti
A1 G Camici
A1 T Barni
A1 CJ Thiele
A1 GC Balboni
YR 1995
UL http://www.jneurosci.org/content/15/6/4382.abstract
AB Primary cell cultures from human fetal olfactory neuroepithelium have been isolated, cloned, and propagated in continuous in vitro culture for approximately 1 year. The two clones we report here synthesize both neuronal proteins and olfactory-specific markers as well as the putative olfactory neurotransmitter, carnosine. In addition, patchclamp experiments reveal that these cells are electrically excitable. Following exposure to a panel of aromatic chemicals one of the cell cultures shows a specific increase in intracellular cAMP, indicating that some degree of functional maturity is expressed in vitro. The results suggest that these cells originate from the “stem cell” compartment that gives rise to mature olfactory receptor neurons. These long-term cell cultures represent models that will be useful in studying the mechanism(s) of olfaction and the regulation of olfactory neurogenesis and differentiation.