About this Research Topic

Background

The olfactory system (OS) is a chemosensory organ that plays an integral role in the life and survival of organisms. The OS detects environmental cues or “odorants” that influence animals' behaviors such as food selection, predator identification, mate recognition, spatial navigation, and memory formation. Odorants are recognized by the olfactory receptors located in the olfactory epithelium in the nose, which project axons to the olfactory bulb (OB). From there, the olfactory information is sent by projection neurons to the anterior olfactory nucleus (AON), piriform cortex (PC), entorhinal cortex (EC), and the subcortical areas of the olfactory tubercle (OT) and the amygdala. These regions establish complex neural circuits whose connectivity and development remain highly unknown. Since anomalies during the OS development have been linked to the appearance of neurological disorders such as autism or schizophrenia, the study of the developmental mechanisms that shape the olfactory areas emerges as a leading topic to the olfactory field.

The goal of this Research Topic is to shed some light on developmental aspects of the olfactory cortical and subcortical brain regions that influence the morphology, circuitry, behavior, and related neurodevelopmental disorders. This Research Topic will include studies on embryonic and postnatal development focused on:

1) Establishment of molecular signatures by cells in the olfactory cortical and subcortical areas;
2) Analysis of mechanisms that control cell migration in those areas; 3) Regulation of dendritogenesis and axonal extension in the olfactory brain regions;
4) Onset of synaptic connections and circuitry formation between the olfactory regions;
5) Development of interhemispheric connections in the olfactory cortex;
6) Postnatal development of olfactory learning and memory processes that are a consequence of circuit development;
7) Role of radial glial cells during the development of cortical and subcortical olfactory regions;
8) Analysis of clonal relationships of cells in olfactory areas;
9) Gliogenesis in olfactory brain areas;
10) Involvement of olfactory areas development in the onset and progression of neurological disorders.

In this Research Topic, we seek original research, reviews, and mini-reviews that explore new hypotheses and ideas in the field employing state-of-the-art techniques including but not limited to, gene editing with CRISPR, regulation of protein expression using si/shRNA, in-utero electroporations (IUE), animal models targeting selected transcription factors, viral tracing, animal behavior, functional and 3D imaging, electron microscopy and electrophysiology. Considering that dysfunctions during the OS development have been correlated with the onset and progression of some neurodevelopmental disorders, research addressing these issues are also welcomed.

Keywords: Piriform cortex, Olfactory, Development, Cell migration, Connectivity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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