CALCIUM SIGNALS IN OLFACTORY NEURONS

Laser scanning confocal microscopy in combination with the fluorescent calcium indicators Fluo-3 and Fura-Red was employed to estimate the i ntracellular concentration of free calcium ions in individual olfactor y receptor neurons and to monitor temporal and spatial changes in the Ca2+-level upon stimulation. The chemosensory cells responded to odora nts with a significant increase in the calcium concentration, preferen tially in the dendritic knob. Applying various stimulation paradigma, it was found that in a population of isolated cells, subsets of recept or neurons display distinct patterns of responsiveness.