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. These contacts between neurons permit the exchange of important signals that enable cells to modulate one another's development. 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. Neuronal replacement occurs even under physiological conditions. 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. We also study the interactions between taste bud cells and their sensory innervation. In both development and regeneration, taste buds differentiate only under the stimulus of an appropriate innervation. We are interested in identifying the specific signals associated with these appropriate nerves; such signals apparently are absent in inappropriate sensory nerves.

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.

• Farbman, A.I., Buchholz, J., Suzuki, Y., Coines, A. and Speert, D. (1999) A molecular basis of cell death in olfactory epithelium. J. Comp. Neurol., 414:306-314.

• Weiler, E. and Farbman, A.I. (1999) Mitral cell loss following lateral olfactory tract transection increases proliferation density in rat olfactory epithelium. Eur. J. Neurosci., 11:3265-3275.