Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway01:20

Physiology 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...
Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure01:03

Olfactory 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...
Olfaction01:25

Olfaction

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...
Osmoregulation in Insects01:47

Osmoregulation in Insects

Malpighian tubules are specialized structures found in the digestive systems of many arthropods, including most insects, that handle excretion and osmoregulation. The tubules are typically arranged in pairs and have a convoluted structure that increases their surface area.
Tactile and Chemical Senses01:27

Tactile 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...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Male cuticular pheromones stimulate removal of the mating plug and promote re-mating through pC1 neurons in <i>Drosophila</i> females.

eLife·2024
Same author

An angiotensin converting enzyme homolog is required for volatile pheromone detection, odorant binding protein secretion and normal courtship behavior in Drosophila melanogaster.

Genetics·2023
Same author

Sex pheromone communication in an insect parasitoid, <i>Campoletis chlorideae</i> Uchida.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2022
Same author

Recent Insights into Insect Olfactory Receptors and Odorant-Binding Proteins.

Insects·2022
Same author

Emergent Intraverbal and Reverse Intraverbal Behavior Following Listener Training in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.

The Analysis of verbal behavior·2022
Same author

Time-Dependent Odorant Sensitivity Modulation in Insects.

Insects·2022
Same journal

From cellular heterogeneity to precision medicine: single-cell multi-omics in CNS disease research.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Mesenchymal stromal/stem cells for neurological disorders in humans: an evidence-mapped clinical review.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same journal

A new framework for nicotinic receptor-targeted therapeutic strategies in psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Plasticity, injury-induced reprogramming, and translational applications of Schwann cells in neural regeneration.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same journal

How do signals propagate in neuronal compartments? Insights from the Poisson-Nernst Planck model.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
Same journal

Editorial: From molecules to function: the world of mesencephalic trigeminal nucleus neurons in health and disease.

Frontiers in cellular neuroscience·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica
07:16

Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica

Published on: June 23, 2018

Odorant and pheromone receptors in insects.

Tal Soo Ha1, Dean P Smith

  • 1Department of Pharmacology and Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas, TX, USA.

Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience
|October 15, 2009
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Animals use diverse strategies for detecting environmental chemicals. Insects, unlike vertebrates, utilize unique odorant receptors and signaling pathways for chemical detection, highlighting evolutionary adaptations in olfaction.

Keywords:
odorantodorant binding proteinsodorant receptorolfactionpheromone

More Related Videos

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility
07:49

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

Published on: July 27, 2017

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 19, 2026

Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica
07:16

Single Sensillum Recordings for Locust Palp Sensilla Basiconica

Published on: June 23, 2018

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility
07:49

Electrophysiological Recording from Drosophila Trichoid Sensilla in Response to Odorants of Low Volatility

Published on: July 27, 2017

Area of Science:

  • * Neuroscience and Molecular Biology
  • * Comparative Physiology
  • * Chemical Ecology

Background:

  • * Chemical detection is crucial for survival across all life forms.
  • * Odorant receptors (ORs) enable animals to detect diverse volatile molecules.
  • * Significant diversity exists in olfactory signaling mechanisms among species.

Purpose of the Study:

  • * To explore the varied strategies employed by different species for odorant detection.
  • * To contrast vertebrate and insect olfactory signaling mechanisms.
  • * To discuss insect olfactory receptor design principles.

Main Methods:

  • * Comparative analysis of olfactory signaling pathways in vertebrates and insects.
  • * Review of existing literature on odorant receptor structure and function.
  • * Examination of G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs) and ion channel mechanisms.

Main Results:

  • * Vertebrate ORs function as classical seven-transmembrane G-protein coupled receptors.
  • * Insect ORs exhibit reversed membrane topology and function as odorant-gated ion channels.
  • * Insect pheromone detection involves unique soluble, extracellular receptors.

Conclusions:

  • * Insects employ distinct molecular strategies for volatile chemical detection compared to vertebrates.
  • * These differences reflect diverse evolutionary adaptations in olfactory systems.
  • * Understanding these alternate strategies provides insights into receptor design principles.