Vol.96 No.10 contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 96 No.10 October 2003
Structure and Function of Olfactory Neuroepithelium
Ken-ichi Nibu
(Kobe University)
Olfactory receptor neurons are located in the olfactory neuroepithelium of the nasal cavity. Olfactory neuroepithelilum has an unusual chararacteristic ability to continue neurogenesis throughout lifetime. This unique character provides an elegant model to study neurogenesis, and fascinates scientists in various fields. This unique ability, also, has made olfactory neuroepithelium as one of the best candidates for "regenerative medicine". This review presents an overview of both physiological and biological data describing the structure and function of olfactory neuroepithelium.
Key words : olfactory neuroepithelium, neurogenesis, development