Electrophysiological characterization of the olfactory bulb during recovery from sensory deafferentation

Axonal transection results in degeneration of the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs). Replacement OSNs reinnervate the olfactory bulb. To document reinnervation, lateral OSN fibers were stimulated while bulb negative evoked potentials (NEPs) were recorded. For control adult hamsters and at 20, 30, and 120 days after transection, lateral fibers were connected to the lateral more than the medial bulb. The percentage of lateral bulb positions with NEPs was similar to control at 30 and 120 days, but NEP amplitude did not reach control level.