Item Details

title

Developmental Dynamics of the Neonatal Rat Olfactory System and the Circuit Basis for Odor Processing

author

Zhang, Zihao

abstract

Brain development is a complex and dynamic process that involves the growth and maturation of neural structures and circuits. This process begins in utero and continues through childhood and adolescence, with ongoing changes and adaptations occurring throughout adulthood. The olfactory system is a complex neural network responsible for the sense of smell and plays a crucial role in various aspects of animal behavior. In neonatal rats, the olfactory system undergoes substantial structural and functional changes during early postnatal development, which are essential for the establishment of mature odor perception and processing. This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the developmental dynamics and circuitry involved in the neonatal rat olfactory system, encompassing histological, electrophysiological, and pharmacological approaches to uncover the underlying mechanisms of odor processing during the first few weeks of life. Our findings reveal that the neonatal olfactory system exhibits unique activity patterns and circuits during early development, with implications for odor identification and discrimination. We demonstrate that the olfactory bulb and piriform cortex, commonly regarded as primary odor-processing areas, establish essential connections that contribute to the formation of these unique circuits. Additionally, we observe that the developing olfactory system viii displays distinct synaptic formations and excitation/inhibition balances compared to adults, highlighting the existence of specialized odor-processing strategies in neonates.

subject

Development

Ocillations

Olfaction

Olfactory bulb

Piriform cortex

contributor

Maier, Joost J. (advisor)

Weiner, Jeffrey J. (committee member)

Stanford, Terrence T. (committee member)

Salinas, Emilio E. (committee member)

Gould, Robert R. (committee member)

date

2023-07-25T17:48:45Z (accessioned)

2023 (issued)

degree

Neurobiology & Anatomy (discipline)

embargo

2028-05-13 (terms)

2028-05-13 (liftdate)

identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/10339/102275 (uri)

language

en (iso)

publisher

Wake Forest University

type

Dissertation