Morphological analysis of regenerated bulbar fibers in relation to neonatal olfaction

Acetyl-l-carnitine enhances myelination of regenerated fibers of the lateral olfactory tract

“…We have recently reported regeneration of LOT in developing rats during the early suckling period [11,13], and such regeneration of LOT had critical periods early in life [13]. Interestingly, the regenerated olfactory system was functional 10 days [14] and 4…”

“…ALC was administered daily between P5 and P20. After LOT transection on P2, axonal regeneration proceeds in the olfactory tubercle between P7 and P12 with the fastest components of regenerating axon fibers having an approximate elongation speed of 0.4 mm per day [14]. It remains to be determined whether critical periods regarding the effectiveness of ALC on myelin formation exist during the developmental stages: the early stage during fiber elongation between P5 and P12 and/or the later stage just after fiber elongation between P13 and P20 or the stage long after the completion of LOT regeneration between P30 and P37.…”

“…The lateral olfactory tract (LOT) is the main fiber tract of the central olfactory system and exclusively consists of myelinated axon fibers. We have recently demonstrated that the neonatally transected LOT can be replaced by newly-formed axon fibers connecting the olfactory bulb and the olfactory cortex (the olfactory tubercle and piriform cortex) via the transected site at a later stage [11][12][13][14]. Because the regenerated LOT is primarily composed of unmyelinated axon fibers, LOT injury is a good animal model to examine the effects of ALC on myelin formation in the developing brain.…”