"Estrogens regulate early embryonic development of the olfactory sensory system via estrogen-responsive glia"

This week in journal club we discussed a recent article by Dr Aya Takesono and colleagues of the Tyler and Kudoh labs at @UniofExeter. https://t.co/6W9Rofmw1P. 

Using an estrogen biosensor zebrafish line, the authors identified a novel type of glia, that they named estrogen-responsive olfactory bulb (EROB) cells. 
 
The study shows that estrogens regulate EROB cell projections intricately interacting with olfactory sensory neurons and promote inhibitory synaptogenesis in the olfactory bulb. Conversely, EROB cell ablation/blocking estrogen signaling impairs the development of olfactory glomeruli. 
 
Lastly, by using calcium sensors, this works demonstrates that estrogens establish the responsiveness of the embryonic olfactory system through EROB glia. Figure 1G illustrates EROB glia in the olfactory bulb of a tg(ERE:GFP) zebrafish larva.