olfactory receptor
Acronym:
OLR
The term olfactory receptor (OLR) refers to a neuron that mediates the first level of sensory information processing in the olfactory system ( Buck-2013 ). An OLR neuron has an oderant-sensitive apical dendrite embedded in the olfactory epithelium (OLE) of a specific area of nasal mucosal epithelieum.It has two variants both of which are present bilaterally: main olfactory receptors (OLRm) and accessory olfactory receptors (OLRa).The variants are located in different areas of the nasal epithelium and respond to two different classes of oderant stimuli. One or both of the OLRm and OLRa variants are found in the human ( Buck-2013 ), macaque ( Price-1990 ), rat ( Swanson-2004 ) and and mouse ( AMBA-2024 ). Rats have clusters of OLR's inseveral other areas of nasal epithelium ( Ataffy-2023 ).
The more numerous OLRm's detect the vast majority of oderant molecules from inanimate objects relevant to personal survival. The less numerous OLRa's detect oderants from other individuals that are relevant to reproduction and survival of the species.
OLR's differ from most other neurons in the nervous system in that their lifespan of 30-40 days ( Menini-2003 ) is more similar to that of epithelial cells than to that of the vast majority of others, which do not replicate during the lifespan of the organism ( Magrassi-20013 ).
For functions of OLR's, see main olfactory receptor and accessory olfactory receptor. Updated 25 Jul 2024.
Also known as: olfactory sensory neuronNeuroNames ID : 5714
|
|