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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...
Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship01:22

Direct-Acting Cholinergic Agonists: Chemistry and Structure-Activity Relationship

Cholinergic agonists or cholinomimetics mimic the action of acetylcholine to stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system. They are categorized into direct-acting and indirect-acting agents. The direct-acting cholinergic drugs induce the parasympathetic response by directly binding to the muscarinic or nicotine receptors. In comparison, the indirect-acting cholinergic drugs prevent acetylcholine hydrolysis, indirectly contributing to the extended parasympathetic response.
The direct-acting...
Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic01:25

Cholinergic Receptors: Muscarinic

The pharmacological actions of acetylcholine are elicited via its binding to two families of cholinergic receptors or cholinoceptors, namely, muscarinic and nicotinic receptors. Muscarinic receptors are G protein-coupled receptors and have five subtypes, M1–M5. All mAChR subtypes are activated by acetylcholine and blocked by the antagonist, atropine. 
The subtypes M1, M3, and M5 couple with the Gq subunit and activate the phospholipase C (PLC) activity, mobilizing intracellular Ca2+. Activation...
Parasympathetic Signaling01:30

Parasympathetic Signaling

Parasympathetic signaling plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes. It involves the release of acetylcholine (ACh) by parasympathetic neurons, which can have localized and short-lived effects. The majority of ACh released is rapidly inactivated at the synapse by the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE), which hydrolyzes Ach into choline and acetate. Additionally, the tissue cholinesterase deactivates any ACh diffusing into the surrounding tissues.
The effects of...

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Cholinergic modulation of olfactory pattern separation.

Julie Chapuis1, Donald A Wilson

  • 1Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, New York University Langone School of Medicine, USA.

Neuroscience Letters
|April 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Acetylcholine enhances odor discrimination learning in the piriform cortex. Muscarinic receptor activation aids scent identification, while blocking these receptors impairs it, particularly during learning.

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Olfactory processing
  • Cognitive function

Background:

  • Pattern separation is crucial for perception and memory.
  • In olfaction, piriform cortex pattern separation aids odor mixture perception.
  • Acetylcholine is known to modulate odor discrimination ability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of cholinergic muscarinic receptors in piriform cortex pattern separation.
  • To determine how specific muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists affect odor discrimination acquisition and expression.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a well-characterized complex odor stimulus set known to engage piriform cortex pattern separation.
  • Administered the muscarinic receptor agonist oxotremorine and antagonist scopolamine.
  • Assessed the impact on odor discrimination acquisition and expression.

Main Results:

  • Oxotremorine facilitated the acquisition of odor discrimination.
  • Scopolamine impaired odor discrimination acquisition, even when localized to the piriform cortex.
  • Acetylcholine's effects were most pronounced during the acquisition phase, with minimal impact on expression.

Conclusions:

  • Cholinergic muscarinic receptors in the piriform cortex are critical for learning to discriminate between odors.
  • Targeting these receptors may offer therapeutic potential for olfactory processing disorders.
  • The timing of cholinergic modulation is key, with effects primarily on learning rather than recall.