The nose knows: Tracking neuroprogenitor cells in the olfactory system

Neuroprogenitor cells, or brain stem cells, have the important task of looking after neuronal connections in the brain. Apparently, it all happens in the area that processes smell—the olfactory system, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced Oct. 10.

Researchers including Leonardo Belluscio, PhD, a scientist at NIH’s National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), conducted experiments related to the homeostasis and restoration of brain connections. The scientists found that, if stimuli is disrupted, all they had to do to get the cells to reboot was to reverse sensory deprivation.

“This is a surprising new role for brain stem cells and changes the way we view them,” said Belluscio in a statement from the NIH.

However, in the event that cells continue to be deprived of stimuli—such as by plugging a nostril as the researchers did to disrupt the olfactory system—and new neurons are no longer generated, these connections remain out of whack.

“We found that without the introduction of the new neurons, the system could not recover from its disrupted state,” explained Belluscio.

Further study is required to fully elucidate why this might be.