Activation of the Wnt–ßCatenin Pathway in a Cell Population on the Surface of the Forebrain Is Essential for the Establishment of Olfactory Axon Connections

A variety of signals governing early extension, guidance, and connectivity of olfactory receptor neuron (ORN) axons has been identified; however, little is known about axon–mesoderm and forebrain (FB)–mesoderm signals. Using Wnt–ßcatenin reporter mice, we identify a novel Wnt-responsive resident cell population, located in a Frizzled7 expression domain at the surface of the embryonic FB, along the trajectory of incoming ORN axons. Organotypic slice cultures that recapitulate olfactory-associated Wnt–ßcatenin activation show that the ßcatenin response depends on a placode-derived signal(s). Likewise, in Dlx5–/– embryos, in which the primary connections fail to form, Wnt–ßcatenin response on the surface of the FB is strongly reduced. The olfactory placode expresses a number of ßcatenin-activating Wnt genes, and the Frizzled7 receptor transduces the "canonical" Wnt signal; using Wnt expression plasmids we show that Wnt5a and Wnt7b are sufficient to rescue ßcatenin activation in the absence of incoming axons. Finally, blocking the canonical Wnt pathway with the exogenous application of the antagonists Dikkopf-1 or secreted-Frizzled-receptor protein-2 prevents ORN axon contact to the FB. These data reveal a novel function for Wnt signaling in the establishment of periphery–CNS olfactory connections and highlight a complex interplay between cells of different embryonic origin for ORN axon connectivity