Boston University Department of Biology

Faculty Profiles

Current Research

My research examines the cellular mechanisms underlying detection, discrimination, and encoding of sensory information. The laboratory focuses on sensory mechanisms in the olfactory epithelium and skin. The olfactory epithelium lines part of the nasal airways; this tissue contains several million olfactory sensory neurons responsible for the perception of odor. Olfactory sensory neurons use specific odor receptors to detect and discriminate odors, and the cells rely on ion channels including voltage-gated sodium channels to generate and transmit signals. Each olfactory sensory neuron expresses just one of a large repertoire of odor receptor genes, but each neuron expresses as many as five different subtypes of the nine voltage-gated sodium channels encoded in the mammalian genome. These sodium channels are differentially distributed in the neurons, and they can be differentially regulated, but the functional implications and biological significance of such diversity remain unclear. Like the olfactory epithelium, skin also has sensory functions (e.g., touch, pain). These functions are served both by specialized sensory neurons that innervate the subcutaneous layers of the skin, and by keratinocytes, the skin cells themselves. We are interested in the role of the keratinocytes. Keratinocytes can release chemical substances that modulate the signaling of the sensory neurons; these neuromodulators can initiate as well as alter sensory responses, especially when keratinocytes are injured, but the processes are not understood. The primary methods employed in the laboratory are electrophysiology, immunohistochemistry, and optical imaging.

Courses Taught

• BI 118 Biology II (Honors)
• BI/NE 201 Introduction to Cellular and Systems Neuroscience
• BI 325 Principles of Neuroscience
• BI 755 / AN 810 Cellular and Systems Neuroscience

Selected Publications

• Delay RJ, Dionne VE (2003). Coupling between sensory neurons in the olfactory epithelium. Chemical Senses 28, 807-815.
• Delay RJ, Dionne VE (2002). Two Second Messengers Mediate Amino Acid Responses in Olfactory Sensory Neurons of the Mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. Chemical Senses 27, 673-80.
• Eisthen HL, Delay RJ, Wirsig-Wiechmann CR, Dionne VE (2000). Neuromodulatory Effects of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone on Olfactory Receptor. Neurons Journal of Neuroscience 20, 3947-3955.
• Delay RJ, Dubin AE, Dionne VE (1997). A Cyclic Nucleotide-Dependent Chloride Conductance in Olfactory Receptor. Neurons Journal of Membrane Biology 159, 53-60.
• Gurantz D, Harootunian AT, Tsien RY, Dionne VE, Margiotta JF (1994). VIP modulates neuronal acetylcholine receptor function by a cyclic AMP-dependent mechanism. Journal of Neuroscience 14, 3540-3547.
• Pandol SJ, Gukovskaya A, Bahnson TD, Dionne VE (1994). Cellular mechanisms mediating agonist-stimulated calcium influx in the pancreatic acinar cell. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 713, 41-48.
• Dubin AE, Dionne VE (1994). Action potentials and chemosensitive conductances in the dendrites of olfactory receptor neurons suggest novel features for odor transduction. Journal of General Physiology 103, 181-201.
• Dubin AE, Dionne VE (1993). Modulation of Cl-, K+ and nonselective cation conductances by taurine in olfactory receptor neurons of the mudpuppy, Necturus maculosus. Journal of General Physiology 101, 469-485.