Research Topics
Endocannabinergic modulation of olfactory information processing
Localization of CB1 receptors on dendrites of ORNs
red: rCB1-NH-Alexa546, green: biocytin-avidine-488.
The goals of this research focus are to investigate the molecular mechanisms of endocannabinoid modulation and its functional role in the olfactory epithelium. Recently we could show that the block of CB1 receptors results in an altered odor responsiveness of individual sensory neurons (Czesnik et al., 2007).
CB1 receptor antagonists (red traces) block odor responses of individual ORNs.
Additionally we could localize CB1 receptors on dendrites of olfactory sensory neurons. We are currently interested in which endocannabinoids act in the OE and how they modulate the physiological odor responses. It is also unclear which mechanisms are crucial for the control of the endocannabinoid levels.