Olfactory Genetics and Anosmia. In: Beidler LM, editor. Olfaction. Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg; 1971. pp. 245-56. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-642-65126-7_11]

Olfactory responsiveness to two odorous steroids in three species of nonhuman primates

Social communication by means of odor signals is widespread among mammals. In pigs, for example, the C19-steroids 5-alpha-androst-16-en-3-one and 5-alpha-androst-16-en-3-ol are secreted by the boar and induce the mating stance in the sow. In humans, the same substances have been shown to be compounds of body odor and are presumed to affect human behavior. Using an instrumental conditioning paradigm, we here show that squirrel monkeys, spider monkeys and pigtail macaques are able to detect androstenone at concentrations in the micromolar range and thus at concentrations at least as low as those reported in pigs and humans. All three species of nonhuman primates were considerably less sensitive to androstenol, which was detected at concentrations in the millimolar range. Additional tests, using a habituation-dishabituation paradigm, showed that none of the 10 animals tested per species was anosmic to the two odorous steroids. These results suggest that androstenone and androstenol may be involved in olfactory communication in the primate species tested and that the specific anosmia to these odorants found in approximately 30% of human subjects may be due to their reduced number of functional olfactory receptor genes compared with nonhuman primates.

Recovery of olfactory behavior. I. Recovery after a complete olfactory bulb lesion correlates with patterns of olfactory nerve penetration

The olfactory system is an excellent system in which to study issues related to potential functional recovery after a debilitating brain injury. The olfactory system is well-characterized, easily accessible and there are a vast number of studies available from a variety of perspectives. The experimental aim of this research is to examine the anatomical correlates associated with potential behavioral recovery in rats that receive complete olfactory bulb lesions as neonates or as adults. The results show that behavioral recovery occurs only when olfactory nerve penetration of the central nervous system is observed. Further, both olfactory nerve penetration and behavioral recovery are age-dependent phenomena. The olfactory nerve penetration only occurs when the olfactory bulb lesion is performed in neonates. Behavioral recovery of olfactory ability follows a linear trend and reaches near normal levels during the six weeks behavioral testing period. Histological analysis using an antibody for olfactory marker protein (an olfactory nerve-specific marker) reveals two potential candidates for the anatomical pathway responsible for behavioral recovery: olfactory nerve to orbital frontal cortex and olfactory nerve to olfactory peduncle. This report presents evidence that recovery of olfactory ability can occur in the absence of the olfactory bulb if the lesion is performed when the rat is still a neonate.

Degeneration and regeneration of the olfactory epithelium following inhalation exposure to methyl bromide: pathology, cell kinetics, and olfactory function

The effects of acute inhalation exposure to methyl bromide (MeBr) on the olfactory epithelium of male F-344 rats was investigated by morphologic examination of animals killed at varying timepoints during and following exposure to 200 ppm MeBr 6 hr/day for 5 days. Cell replication rate and histopathology were used to assess the kinetics of repair. In addition, olfactory function, using the buried food pellet test, was assessed and the result compared with morphological recovery. Extensive destruction of the olfactory epithelium was evident in animals killed directly after a single 6-hr exposure to MeBr. Histologic features of these lesions indicate that the primary, or most severe, effect of MeBr exposure was on the sustentacular cells and mature sensory cells; basal cells were generally unaffected. By Day 3, despite continued exposure, there was replacement of the olfactory epithelium by a squamous cell layer that increased in thickness and basophilic cytoplasmic staining over the next 2 days of exposure. One week postexposure, the epithelial region was covered by a layer of polyhedral, basophilic cells, and from 2 to 10 weeks postexposure, the epithelium exhibited progressive reorganization to reform the original olfactory epithelium pattern. By Week 10, 75-80% of the olfactory epithelium appeared morphologically normal. Cell replication showed a single peak of olfactory epithelial cell proliferation at Day 3 of exposure, with a labeling index of 14.5% compared to 0.7% in controls. Cell replication rates returned gradually to control levels by Week 10 postexposure. Behavioral tests of olfactory function in animals after a single 6-hr exposure to 200 ppm MeBr demonstrated a loss of the sense of smell, with recovery of this function by Day 6. Exposure to 90 ppm caused no observable effect on olfactory function or morphology. These findings demonstrate that the olfactory mucosa is highly sensitive to the toxic effects of MeBr and that olfactory epithelial cell proliferation, and possible regeneration, begins and occurs rapidly even in the face of continued exposure. Cell replication was most prominent in the layer of basal cells adjacent to the basal lamina, supporting proposals by other workers that the progenitors of both sustentacular cells and neurons reside in this location. Of interest is the fact that functional recovery occurs prior to complete morphological reorganization, indicating the shortcoming of utilizing olfactory morphology as an index of functional integrity.

Homology between the pyrazine-binding protein from nasal mucosa and major urinary proteins

Sequence analysis of the pyrazine-binding protein from bovine olfactory mucosa reveals marked homology with a family of proteins of unknown function found in the urine of the adult male mouse and rat. In view of the dramatic biological responses to odorants transmitted in male rodent urines, it is proposed that these proteins play important roles in some aspects of odor transmission and reception.

Spatial EEG patterns, non-linear dynamics and perception: the neo-Sherringtonian view

Spatial analysis with preamplifier arrays and computers offers fresh perspectives on brain function. Realization of its potential depends on development of appropriate procedures for data processing and display, experimental paradigms to serve as benchmarks, and theories of brain function to predict what to look for and how to distinguish valid results from artifacts. Measurement of EEGs from arrays of 64 electrodes chronically implanted on the olfactory bulbs of rabbits that are trained to discriminate odorant conditioned stimuli show that the odorants induce spatially distinctive amplitude patterns of neural activity. The odor-specific information density is inferred to be uniform over the whole main bulb. The neural dynamics that produce these activity patterns emerge from the synaptically interactive sheet of excitatory mitral and inhibitory granule cells with distributed input and output tracts and with static nonlinearities deriving from the nerve impulse mechanism. Excitatory synapses between mitral cells are subject to modification when odorants are paired with unconditioned stimuli, thus forming nerve cell assemblies. Odorant-specific information established by a stimulus locally in the bulbar unit activity is integrated with past experience by an assembly, disseminated over the entire bulb on the order of 100 mm2 in area in a time period of 2.5 ms, and sustained for a time period on the order of 0.1 s. An arbitrary spatial sample on the order of 20% of bulbar EEG activity captures the entire integrated information albeit at lesser resolution than the whole. This synaptic mechanism of local input and global output may be common to all of the cerebral cortex. The implications are discussed for neocortical sensory systems, motor pattern generators, and goal-directed behavior in the context of self-organizing non-linear dynamic systems.

Quantitative effects of nasal surgery on olfaction

A prospective study of 100 patients undergoing nasal surgery was done to quantitate the effects of nasal surgery on olfaction. Patients were evaluated pre- and postoperatively with regard to their subjective olfaction, and pre- and postoperative olfactograms were obtained using a simple office olfactometer. Thirty-two patients had normal olfaction during the course of study. Forty-nine improved following surgery. Eight patients had a decrease in olfaction after surgery. Two of these were related to allergic rhinitis. One patient had a total loss of olfaction following a septorhinoplasty. The authors conclude that most patients undergoing nasal surgery will have either an improvement or no change in olfaction after surgery.

Interindividual differences in acuity for odor and aroma

To determine the olfactory acuity of 27 subjects a sensory test was presented which was divided into 4 subtests, 2 for nasal and 2 for oral stimulation. Each subtest contained 28 (4 substances X 7 concentrations) olfactory detection tasks (items). The substances used were lemon and rum aroma as well as ethyl butyrate and amyl acetate, the solvents tap water and sugared tap water. Analysis showed that the test provided a clear differentiation between subjects of low, medium, and high olfactory acuity. The intercorrelations among the test substances and the split-half reliabilities of the subtests proved relatively high, whereas only moderate to low intercorrelations among the subtests were found. This was considered an effect of intraindividual variations of olfactory sensitivity. Finally, some conclusions for the construction of acuity tests for odor and aroma are presented.

Neurobehavioral evidence for the involvement of the vomeronasal system in mammalian reproduction

Jacobson's organ of the vomeronasal system is found in every order of mammals with the possible exception of Cetacea. The equivocal evidence claiming a vestigial or absent organ in humans is reviewed. Based upon anatomical considerations, the sensory epithelium of Jacobson's organ is one of five possible sensory components within the nasal cavity. Many methods designed to test the role of olfaction (sensu strictu) in physiology and behavior do not discriminate among the possible systems. Therefore, erroneous conclusions may have been drawn from the results of intervention experiments. The central neuroanatomical projections of the vomeronasal and olfactory systems are different and relatively independent of each other. The vomeronasal system reciprocally communicates with central areas concerned with reproductive events. On the other hand, the olfactory system may subserve individual maintenance tasks (e.g., feeding). As a periscope from the diencephalon, the vomeronasal system may monitor exogenous hormones, "pheromones".

A review of olfactory dysfunctions in man

Although a large number of individuals experience olfactory disorders following accidents, disease states, medical interventions, aging, and exposure to environmental chemicals and pollutants, few medical practitioners have the expertise or staff to provide appropriate clinical evaluation, treatment, counseling, or referral for such patients. The present review examines studies associated with the diagnosis and treatment of olfactory disorders, as well as ones noting olfactory signs as diagnostic markers for brain tumors and other serious problems. A basic taxonomy of smell dysfunctions is presented, along with a review of etiologic factors, including local diseases and mechanical obstruction of the airways, viral infections, trauma, congenital anomalies, endocrine disorders, tumors, psychiatric disorders, aging, drugs, environmental and industrial pollutants, iatrogenic factors, and miscellaneous diseases. A discussion of current disability compensation guidelines in the United States and Britain is also presented.