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Cellular
interactions in neuronal development; cell and developmental biology
of olfaction and taste
A major focus in our laboratory is the development
of cells in the nervous system. We are particularly interested in the molecular
events associated with the initiation of axonal growth from the nerve cell
and the developmental signals exchanged between differentiating cells.
For the nervous system to function properly, axons must grow and establish
contacts with their appropriate target cells so that messages can be transmitted
from cell to cell in a coordinated fashion. As our primary model system we
use the nerve cells that respond to odor stimuli. The olfactory neurons are
unique because if lost as a result of trauma or infection they can be replaced,
even in adults. If we can understand how these cells develop and why they
are so readily replaced, we may be able to learn how to bring about replacement
of cells that have been lost in other parts of the nervous system.
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Selected References:
• Farbman, A.I. (2000) Cell Biology of Olfaction.
In: Neurobiology of Taste and Smell, 2nd ed. Eds., T.E. Finger, D.
Restrepo, W.L. Silver. Wiley Press, N.Y. 127-154.
• Farbman, A.I. and Ezeh, P.I. (2000) TGF-alpha
and Olfactory Marker Protein enhance mitosis in rat olfactory epithelium
in vivo. NeuroReport, 11:3655-3658.
• Rochlin, W., O'Connor, R., Giger, R.J., Verhaagen, J. and Farbman,
A.I. (2000) Comparison of neurotrophin and repellent sensitivities
of early embryonic geniculate and trigeminal axons. J. Comp. Neurol.,
422:579-593.
• Suzuki, Y. and Farbman, A.I. (2000) Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha-induced
apoptosis in olfactory epithelium in vitro: possible roles of caspase
1 (ICE), caspase 2 (ICH-1) and caspase 3 (CPP32). Exp. Neurol.,
165:35-45. |
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Other
Links:
• link
to a more detailed research description
• Northwestern
University School of Speech
• A Tribute to Al Farbman, Journal of Neurocytology |
