Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 30, 2026
07:49
Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility
Published on: July 27, 2017
A single sensory neuron directs both attractive and repulsive odor preferences
1Group of Molecular Neurobiology, Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, Nagoya University and CREST-JST, Nagoya, 464-8602, Japan. m46920a@nucc.cc.nagoya-u.ac.jp
Neuron
|September 27, 2008
Summary
One olfactory neuron in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans generates opposing behavioral preferences to a single odor. This occurs through the regulation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Animal Behavior
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- Innate animal behaviors are often guided by specialized sensory neurons.
- Understanding the neural basis of sensory processing is crucial for deciphering behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how a single olfactory neuron can elicit opposing behavioral responses.
- To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying dual odor preferences in Caenorhabditis elegans.
Main Methods:
- Utilized genetic analysis in Caenorhabditis elegans.
- Investigated the roles of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathways.
- Observed and analyzed animal behavioral responses to specific odors.
Main Results:
- Identified a single olfactory neuron capable of mediating two distinct behavioral preferences towards an odor.
- Demonstrated that the opposing preferences are regulated by the interplay of cGMP and PKC signaling.
- Provided a molecular explanation for dual-valence odor perception in a simple nervous system.
Conclusions:
- A single olfactory neuron can encode opposing behavioral outputs.
- The balance between cGMP and PKC signaling is critical for determining behavioral preference.
- This finding offers new insights into the complexity of neural coding in sensory systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Olfaction
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.
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
The olfactory receptors are embedded in the cilia of the...
01:20Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway
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...
The olfactory...
01:03Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure
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...
01:27Tactile and Chemical Senses
Tactile senses encompass touch, temperature, and pain, each mediated by specific receptors. Touch receptors detect mechanical energy or pressure against the skin. Sensory fibers from these receptors enter the spinal cord and relay information to the brain stem. Here, most fibers cross over to the opposite side of the brain. The touch information then moves to the thalamus, which projects a map of the body's surface onto the somatosensory areas of the parietal lobes in the cerebral cortex. This...
01:24The Physiology of Taste
The perception of a salty flavor is facilitated by sodium ions within the oral salivary fluid. Upon consumption of a salty substance, salt crystals disassemble, leading to the liberation of its constituents—Na+ and Cl- ions. These ions subsequently dissolve into the salivary fluid present in the oral cavity. The external environment of the gustatory cells experiences an elevation in Na+ concentration, thereby establishing a potent concentration gradient. This gradient propels the diffusion of...
01:33Somatosensation
The somatosensory system relays sensory information from the skin, mucous membranes, limbs, and joints. Somatosensation is more familiarly known as the sense of touch. A typical somatosensory pathway includes three types of long neurons: primary, secondary, and tertiary. Primary neurons have cell bodies located near the spinal cord in groups of neurons called dorsal root ganglia. The sensory neurons of ganglia innervate designated areas of skin called dermatomes.