Investigation of Mechanisms Underlying Odor Recognition.
Abstract
Using a computer-controlled automated 3-choice test apparatus, a series of rat odor detection experiments were performed to establish the influences of an i.p. injected odorant upon olfactory sensitivity to that odorant. In addition, electrophysiological studies of surface potentials (electro-olfacto-grams) from septal olfactory tissue and septal tissue from the Organ of Masera were performed. No statistically-significant changes in odor detection performance were found on successive daily tests following injection of the two test odorants (pentyl acetate and cynamic aldehyde). However, significant increases in detection performance were noted across test days in both the experimental (odor injected) and control (saline injected) animals. It was demonstrated for the first time that the septal organ of Masera is differentially responsive to odorants. It was found that: the response boundary perimeters from one animal to another are consistent and in agreement with histologically-defined septal organ regions; responses are largest at recording sites near the center of the organ; and lower concentrations were needed to elicit a response from the organ than from olfactory epithelial tissue located posteriorly on the septum.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Feb 01, 1984
- Accession Number
- ADA140969
Entities
People
- D. A. Marshall
- R. L. Doty
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania