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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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The sense of smell is achieved through the activities of the olfactory system. It starts when an airborne odorant enters the nasal cavity and reaches olfactory epithelium (OE). The OE is protected by a thin layer of mucus, which also serves the purpose of dissolving more complex compounds into simpler chemical odorants. The size of the OE and the density of sensory neurons varies among species; in humans, the OE is only about 9-10 cm2.
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G-Protein Gated Ion Channels01:21

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GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision.  The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
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Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

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The process of olfaction, also known as the sense of smell, is a sophisticated chemical response system. The specialized sensory neurons that facilitate this process, known as olfactory receptor neurons, are situated in an upper segment of the nasal cavity, known as the olfactory epithelium. Olfactory sensory neurons are bipolar, with their dendrites extending from the epithelium's apex into the mucus that lines the nasal cavity. Airborne molecules, when inhaled, traverse the olfactory...
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Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

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Humans detect odors with the help of specialized cells located in the upper part of the nasal cavity, called olfactory receptor neurons (ORNs). ORNs possess hair-like structures called cilia, which are receptive to sensations from the inhaled air. When an odorant molecule binds to a specific receptor on the cell of the cilia, it leads to a series of events that ultimately cause the ORN to send electrical signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain through the olfactory nerves.
The olfactory...
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Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity01:26

Antigens Involved in Adaptive Immunity

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An antigen is any substance the immune system identifies as foreign and potentially harmful to the body, prompting an immune response. Antigens have two functional properties: immunogenicity and reactivity. Immunogenicity is the ability of an antigen to stimulate a specific immune response. At the same time, reactivity describes the antigen's ability to react with the cells and antibodies produced in response to it.
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Antigen Processing Pathways01:31

Antigen Processing Pathways

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MHC molecules are key players in the immune response, enabling T cells to recognize and respond to specific antigens. They are present on the surface of all nucleated cells in the body and are instrumental in presenting antigens to T cells and activating them. T cells recognize the MHC-antigen complex and initiate an immune response. MHC class I and MHC class II are two main types of MHC molecules, each associated with a distinct antigen processing pathway.
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 27, 2026

Whole Mount Labeling of Cilia in the Main Olfactory System of Mice
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Olfactory cues associated with the major histocompatibility complex.

F Eggert1, W Müller-Ruchholtz, R Ferstl

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Kiel, Germany.

Genetica
|July 1, 1999
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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) influences body odor and mate choice. MHC-linked scents may promote genetic diversity through mate selection and pregnancy outcomes.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Olfactory communication
  • Behavioral ecology

Background:

  • The Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) is crucial for immune self/non-self recognition.
  • MHC polymorphism has been implicated in individual-specific body odors.
  • Early research observed MHC-dependent mate choice in mice.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the link between MHC genes and body odor.
  • To explore the role of MHC-related odors in mate selection and population genetics.
  • To substantiate the hypothesis of immunogenetic odor types.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic experimental studies in rodents (H-2 related odors).
  • Field studies and experiments with humans on MHC-related odor signals.
  • Analysis of behavioral mechanisms influencing MHC diversity.

Main Results:

  • Evidence for H-2 related body odors in mice.
  • Numerous animal and human studies support MHC-dependent odor signals.
  • MHC-associated odor types are substantiated.
  • Behavioral mechanisms contribute to maintaining MHC genetic diversity.

Conclusions:

  • MHC genes significantly influence body odor composition.
  • MHC-related olfactory cues play a role in mate choice.
  • Behavioral selection, including mating preferences, promotes MHC heterozygosity in natural populations.
  • This promotes genetic diversity, potentially through mechanisms like selective pregnancy block.