An exploration of potential tonic ATP release pathways from the olfactory epithelium of mice

Abstract

This project set out to determine the mechanism by which ATP is released into the extracellular environment from mouse olfactory epithelium (OE) under normal, tonic conditions. ATP acts within the OE as a local signaling molecule and is thought to play a role in one pathway that promotes regeneration of nervous tissue from basal cells. The greater ambition of our research is to discover which factors play a role in growth and proliferation of cells in mouse OE that we may gain better understanding of how regeneration may occur all areas of the nervous system. There is also hope that this knowledge can be applied to human health.