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Igor L. Kratskin, M.D., Ph.D.
Research Assistant Professor
Smell and Taste Center
Department of Otorhinolaryngology
School of Medicine
5 Ravdin Pavilion/4283
(215) 349-8559 FAX: (215) 349-5266
email: kratskin@mail.med.upenn.edu
Click here for selected publications since Dr. Kratskin's arrival at Penn
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Neurobiology of olfaction; physiological role of taurine in olfactory structures;
chemical neuroanatomy of centrifugal inputs to olfactory bulb; olfactory
system in health and disease RESEARCH TECHNIQUES
Tracing neural connections; light/electron microscopic immunocytochemistry; double labeling with axonal tracing and immunostaining; immunofluorescence; electrophysiology; antisense technologyRESEARCH SUMMARY
Taurine is the most abundant neuroactive amino acid in the olfactory mucosa and olfactory bulb, however, its physiological role in olfaction is unknown. Using whole-cell patch-clamp recordings in slices of rat olfactory bulb, we showed that taurine causes strong inhibition of principal neurons (mitral and tufted cells) via direct activation of GABAA receptors, whereas intrinsic neurons (periglomerular and granule cells) are insensitive to the amino acid. This suggests that one action of taurine in the olfactory system is to moderate the excitability of bulbar principal neurons. We developed antibodies against a synthetic fragment of the taurine-sythesizing enzyme cysteine sulfinate decarboxylase (CSD). Western analysis of proteins extracted from the rat nasal mucosa indicated that antibodies recognize specifically a protein with a molecular mass of ~55 kD analogous to that of the CSD protein. Double immunolabeling demonstrated that CSD is primarily expressed in olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs) identified by staining for olfactory marker protein. Taurine is a potent cell-protecting and neurotrophic factor playing a critical role in neural development. ORNs, due to their proximity to the external environment and continual replacement throughout life, require the presence of taurine that may ensure their maturation and differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we employ antisense technology in order to inhibit translation of the CSD protein from specific mRNA and reduce the taurine content of the olfactory mucosa.
KEY WORDS:
olfactory bulb; olfactory epithelium; chemical neuroanatomy; taurine; olfactotoxins
