Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Olfactory Receptors: Location and Structure

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...

Olfaction

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...

Physiology of Smell and Olfactory Pathway

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...

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

Excitatory and Inhibitory Effects of Neurotransmitters

When an action potential reaches the presynaptic axon terminal, it releases neurotransmitters from the neuron into the synaptic cleft at a chemical synapse. The released neurotransmitter can be excitatory or inhibitory. The critical criteria commonly used to determine whether a molecule is a neurotransmitter at a chemical synapse are the molecule's presence in the presynaptic neuron. Second, its release is in response to strong presynaptic depolarization. And lastly, the presence of specific...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Patients' Experience With Periodontitis at Brest Dental University Hospital: A Qualitative Study.

International journal of dental hygiene·2026

Same author

How to Guide Patients Suffering From Periodontitis Towards Behavioural Change: A Systematic Review.

Oral diseases·2026

Same author

Impaired Formation of Primary Cilia in Olfactory Neuronal Precursors Is Associated with Decreased Proliferation and Maturation in Individuals with Hyposmia.

International journal of molecular sciences·2025

Same author

Immune modulation to treat Alzheimer's disease.

Molecular neurodegeneration·2025

Same author

How does gender influence student learning, stress and career choice in endodontics?

International endodontic journal·2025

Same author

Advancements in Immunity and Dementia Research: Highlights from the 2023 AAIC Advancements: Immunity Conference.

Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association·2024

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period

Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period

Published on: March 1, 2024

Synapse loss in olfactory local interneurons modifies perception.

Angel Acebes¹, Alfonso Martín-Peña, Valérie Chevalier

¹Cajal Institute, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, 28002 Madrid, Spain.

The Journal of Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the Society for Neuroscience

|March 19, 2011

Summary

Synapse loss in specific neurons causes significant changes in olfactory perception. Restoring the balance between inhibitory and excitatory synapses in Drosophila can normalize sensory perception, highlighting the importance of synaptic balance.

More Related Videos

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Published on: July 13, 2015

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 3, 2026

Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period

Experience-Dependent Remodeling of Juvenile Brain Olfactory Sensory Neuron Synaptic Connectivity in an Early-Life Critical Period

Published on: March 1, 2024

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

A Lateralized Odor Learning Model in Neonatal Rats for Dissecting Neural Circuitry Underpinning Memory Formation

Published on: August 18, 2014

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Perforated Patch-clamp Recording of Mouse Olfactory Sensory Neurons in Intact Neuroepithelium: Functional Analysis of Neurons Expressing an Identified Odorant Receptor

Published on: July 13, 2015

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Sensory Perception
Molecular Biology

Background:

Synapse loss is linked to cognitive decline in aging and neurological diseases.
Sensory perception changes can precede neurodegenerative disease onset.
Quantifying the cause-effect of synapse loss on sensory deficits is challenging due to neural adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the causal link between synapse loss and sensory perception deficits.
To explore the role of specific interneuron subsets in olfactory perception.
To understand the impact of altered synaptic balance on behavior.

Main Methods:

Utilized a PI3K/AKT/GSK3 signaling pathway modification in Drosophila melanogaster to selectively reduce synapses in local interneurons.
Targeted neuron subsets based on GABA or ChAT expression.
Assessed behavioral responses to various odorants and concentrations.

Main Results:

Reducing inhibitory synapses shifted olfactory responses to repulsive, while reducing excitatory synapses shifted them toward attraction.
Simultaneous reduction of both synapse types restored normal olfactory perception.
Identified functionally specialized interneurons unaffected by synapse loss for certain odorants.

Conclusions:

Demonstrated that synapse loss directly causes sensory perception changes.
Highlighted the critical role of a balance between excitation and inhibition in normal olfactory perception.
Confirmed that these effects are specific to local interneurons and not developmental artifacts.