Understanding morphological, molecular, and functional adaptations of the amphibian olfactory system demanded by transition from aquatic to terrestrial habitats

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Ivan Manzini
• Subject Area: Cognitive, Systems and Behavioural Neurobiology ; Molecular Biology and Physiology of Neurons and Glial Cells
• Term: from 2018 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 356132378

Amphibians were among the first species to conquer terrestrial habitats and thus evolved major adaptations, also of the olfactory system. How transitions in aquatic, semi-aquatic, secondarily aquatic, and terrestrial life styles lead to morphological, molecular and functional adaptations in the olfactory system is still unknown. The olfactory system of the secondarily aquatic African clawed frog, Xenopus laevis, exhibits a number of interesting structural, molecular, and functional peculiarities in comparison to the mammalian and fish olfactory system. Among them, a bifurcated axonal wiring pattern of olfactory receptor neurons with multi-glomerular connectivity in the olfactory bulb is a major difference to other so far investigated olfactory systems. It is unclear if these special features are adaptations to a secondarily aquatic life style or if they extend to other amphibian species with other preferred habitats. With the Xenopus olfactory system as basis, we plan to comparatively investigate a wide range of amphibian species with a variety of life styles using a multidisciplinary approach integrating investigations of cellular structure, functional and molecular properties, brain network organization, and behavior.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Argentina
• Partner Organisation: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; MINISTERIO DE CIENCIA, TECNOLOGÍA E ; INNOVACIÓN PRODUCTIVA
• Cooperation Partners: Lucas David Jungblut, Ph.D.; Andrea Gabriela Pozzi, Ph.D.