Olfactory receptor cells are widely thought to regenerate after degeneration and also thought to show turnover in normal circumstances in animal olfactory epithelium. The identity of the factor that controls proliferation and differentiation of olfactory receptor cells is a very important problem that has yet to be resolved. In this study, the mitogenic effects of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on olfactory receptor cells in guinea pig olfactory epithelium was examined. The intraperitoneal injection of 1,000 ng bFGF/day for 14 days increased the cells in proliferation detected by immunostaining with proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), while neither EGF nor low-dose bFGF had any effect. These results support the idea that an adequate dose of bFGF plays an important role in the neurogenesis in the olfactory epithelium. Further study is needed to clarify the efficacy of bFGF in the damaged olfactory epithelium, but bFGF may provide a therapeutic option for olfactory disturbances caused by complete or partial loss of olfactory receptor cells.
Animals Epidermal Growth Factor