M. Mathonnet et al., The avian olfactory system as a model for the analysis of apoptosis and cellular regeneration., ANN CHIR, 126(9), 2001, pp. 888-895
A reliable model, usable in vitro and in vivo, is necessary for analysis of
processes engaged during cell death, regeneration and differentiation, The
peripheral olfactory system is an attractive model for studying these proc
esses through its dynamic neurogenesis that occurs continually throughout t
he lifetime.
Study aim: The aim of this study was the analysis of these processes on an
animal model.
Material and methods: We performed axotomy of the nerve olfactory on young
animals and chicken embryos E17. Then we infused IGF-I (insulin-like growth
factor-I) in the lesioned site. Death, regeneration and differenciation of
cells were studied by immunocytology.
Results: After hatching, the section of the olfactory nerve induced a rapid
neuronal apoptosis at the 24th hour followed by a wave of mitosis 24 hours
later. In prenatal stages, the response to the axotomy was rather similar
to a dedifferentiation.
In postnatal stages, the IGF-I infusion at the lesioned site had a triple f
unction: survival of mature neurons, maintenance of differentiation and sti
mulation of mitosis. The neoneurogenesis, which occured from neuronal stem
cells would depend on the maturation and environment of the olfactory neuro
ns protected from apoptosis by IGF-I.
Conclusion: The avian olfactory epithelium is a good model for analysis of
cell death, regeneration and differentiation. The capacity of these neurona
l stem cells to dedifferentiate makes then more primitive than the pluripot
ent cells, closer to totipotent embryonic stem cells. (C) 2001 Editions sci
entifiques et medicales Elsevier SAS.