The Olfactory System as a Molecular Descriptor

Physiology ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 2 (6) ◽  
pp. 203-208
Author(s):  
J Chanel
Keyword(s):  
Distribution Pattern ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
Molecular Descriptor ◽  
Olfactory Mucosa ◽  
Membrane Receptor ◽  
Receptor Sites

The olfactory mucosa has a limited variety of membrane receptor sites, diversely distributed from one olfactory cell to another. The distribution pattern might provide an activation scheme that is spatially organized for each odorant. The distinct topological arrangement would then constitute a molecular descriptor of the odorant.

The olfactory system is affected by steroid aerosol treatment in mice

2009 ◽  
Vol 297 (6) ◽  
pp. L1073-L1081 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Mucignat-Caretta ◽  
M. Bondí ◽  
A. Rubini ◽  
F. Calabrese ◽  
A. Barbato
Keyword(s):  
Olfactory System ◽  
Respiratory Mechanics ◽  
Corticosteroid Treatment ◽  
Olfactory Mucosa ◽  
Olfactory Function ◽  
Continuous Treatment ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Olfactory Marker Protein ◽  
Mild Impairment

Asthma needs continuous treatment often for years. In humans, some drugs are administered via aerosol, therefore they come in contact with both respiratory and olfactory mucosa. We explored the possibility that antiasthma corticosteroid treatment could influence the olfactory function by passage through the nose. A group of mice was exposed twice daily for 42 days to fluticasone propionate aerosol and was compared with a control group. Olfactory behavior, respiratory mechanics, histology, and immunoreactivity in the olfactory system were assessed. Fluticasone-treated mice were slower in retrieving a piece of hidden food, but both groups were similarly fast when the food was visible. When a clearly detectable odor was present in the environment, all mice behaved in a similar way. Respiratory mechanics indices were similar in all mice except for the viscose resistance, which was reduced in fluticasone-treated mice. Olfactory mucosa of fluticasone-treated mice was thicker than that of controls. Slight but consistent differences in staining were present for Olfactory Marker Protein but not for other proteins. A mild impairment of olfactory function is present in mice chronically treated with fluticasone aerosol, apparently accompanied by slight modifications of the olfactory receptor cells, and suggests monitoring of olfactory function modifications in long-term steroid users.

scholarly journals IN SITU IDENTIFICATION OF LYMPHORETICULAR CELLS IN BENIGN AND MALIGNANT INFILTRATES BY MEMBRANE RECEPTOR SITES

1977 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-235 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Stingl ◽  
K. Wolff ◽  
E. Diem ◽  
G. Baumgartner ◽  
W. Knapp
Keyword(s):  
Membrane Receptor ◽  
Receptor Sites

Spatial arrangement of some erythrocyte membrane receptor sites

1976 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 317-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
Günther Geyer ◽  
Karl-Jürgen Halbhuber ◽  
Herwart Feuerstein
Keyword(s):  
Erythrocyte Membrane ◽  
Spatial Arrangement ◽  
Membrane Receptor ◽  
Receptor Sites

scholarly journals The olfactory system of migratory adult sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) is specifically and acutely sensitive to unique bile acids released by conspecific larvae.

1995 ◽  
Vol 105 (5) ◽  
pp. 569-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
W Li ◽  
P W Sorensen ◽  
D D Gallaher
Keyword(s):  
Bile Acids ◽  
Olfactory System ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Sea Lamprey ◽  
Sulfate Ester ◽  
Mature Adults ◽  
Freshwater Streams ◽  
Petromyzonol Sulfate ◽  
Receptor Sites ◽  
Cross Adaptation

Larval sea lamprey inhabit freshwater streams and migrate to oceans or lakes to feed after a radical metamorphosis; subsequently, mature adults return to streams to spawn. Previous observations suggested that lamprey utilize the odor of conspecific larvae to select streams for spawning. Here we report biochemical and electrophysiological evidence that this odor is comprised of two unique bile acids released by larvae. High performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry demonstrated that larval sea lamprey produce and release two unique bile acids, allocholic acid (ACA) and petromyzonol sulfate (PS). Electro-olfactogram (EOG) recording also demonstrated that the olfactory system of migratory adult sea lamprey is acutely and specifically sensitive to ACA and PS; detection thresholds for these compounds were approximately 10(-12) M. ACA and PS were the most potent of 38 bile acids tested and cross-adaptation experiments suggested that adult sea lamprey have specific olfactory receptor sites associated with independent signal transduction pathways for these bile acids. These receptor sites specifically recognize the key substituents of ACA and PS such as a 5 alpha-hydrogen, three axial hydroxyls, and a C-24 sulfate ester or carboxyl. In conclusion, the unique lamprey bile acids, ACA and PS, are potent and specific stimulants of the adult olfactory system, strongly supporting the hypothesis that these unique bile acids function as migratory pheromones in lamprey.

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