Reciprocal interactions between olfactory receptor axons and olfactory nerve glia cultured from the developing moth Manduca sexta

In olfactory systems, neuron–glia interactions have been implicated in the growth and guidance of olfactory receptor axons. In the moth Manduca sexta, developing olfactory receptor axons encounter several types of glia as they grow into the brain. Antennal nerve glia are born in the periphery and enwrap bundles of olfactory receptor axons in the antennal nerve. Although their peripheral origin and relationship with axon bundles suggest that they share features with mammalian olfactory ensheathing cells, the developmental roles of antennal nerve glia remain elusive. When cocultured with antennal nerve glial cells, olfactory receptor growth cones readily advance along glial processes without displaying prolonged changes in morphology. In turn, olfactory receptor axons induce antennal nerve glial cells to form multicellular arrays through proliferation and process extension. In contrast to antennal nerve glia, centrally derived glial cells from the axon sorting zone and antennal lobe never form arrays in vitro, and growth-cone glial-cell encounters with these cells halt axon elongation and cause permanent elaborations in growth cone morphology. We propose that antennal nerve glia play roles similar to olfactory ensheathing cells in supporting axon elongation, yet differ in their capacity to influence axon guidance, sorting, and targeting, roles that could be played by central olfactory glia in Manduca.