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Related Concept Videos

Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

40.5K
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...
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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

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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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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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 1, 2026

Simple and Computer-assisted Olfactory Testing for Mice
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Genetically-based olfactory signatures persist despite dietary variation.

Jae Kwak1, Alan Willse, Koichi Matsumura

  • 1Monell Chemical Senses Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.

Plos One
|November 1, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Mice possess unique odors, or odortypes, influenced by genetics and diet. Despite significant dietary changes, the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic signature in mouse odors remains detectable, crucial for individual recognition.

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Area of Science:

  • Immunogenetics
  • Animal Behavior
  • Chemical Ecology

Background:

  • Individual recognition in mice relies on unique urinary odors (odortypes).
  • Odortypes are influenced by both genetic factors, particularly the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), and environmental factors like diet.
  • Dietary variations can potentially mask the genetic underpinnings of odortypes, challenging reliable individual identification.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine if MHC-determined odortypes in inbred mice remain identifiable despite substantial diet-induced variations.
  • To assess the stability of MHC-related olfactory cues under differing dietary conditions.

Main Methods:

  • Behavioral experiments involving mice trained to discriminate urinary odors based on MHC type and diet.
  • Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
  • Algorithmic classification (supervised learning) to analyze VOC data and identify MHC-specific profiles.

Main Results:

  • Mice perceived diet odor as more salient than MHC odor in initial discrimination tasks.
  • Mice successfully recognized MHC differences even when presented with urines from mice on different diets.
  • Chemical analysis confirmed that while diet significantly impacts VOC profiles, MHC-related chemical signatures persist.
  • Supervised classification algorithms could accurately discriminate MHC types across different diets.

Conclusions:

  • Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) determined urinary odor profiles in mice are robust and remain detectable despite significant dietary variations.
  • Dietary influences on urinary volatile organic compounds (VOCs) do not obscure the underlying genetic (MHC) odor signature.
  • MHC-based odortypes maintain their integrity, supporting their role in individual recognition even with environmental dietary shifts.