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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...

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A possible link between olfaction and miscarriage.

Neven Borak¹, Johannes Kohl¹

¹State-dependent Neural Processing Lab, Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom.

|September 29, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Unexplained repeated pregnancy loss may be linked to changes in how individuals perceive male odors and process smell information in the brain. This research explores olfactory perception and brain activity in recurrent pregnancy loss.

Keywords:

Bruce effect human miscarriage neuroscience olfaction pregnancy block repeated pregnancy loss social chemosignaling

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Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Real-time In Vitro Monitoring of Odorant Receptor Activation by an Odorant in the Vapor Phase

Published on: April 23, 2019

Area of Science:

Neuroscience
Reproductive Medicine
Olfactory Research

Background:

Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects a significant number of reproductive-aged individuals.
The underlying causes of RPL remain unexplained in many cases.
Olfactory perception plays a role in various physiological processes, but its connection to RPL is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the relationship between unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss and olfactory perception.
To explore potential differences in brain regions involved in smell processing in individuals with RPL.
To identify potential biomarkers or contributing factors for RPL through olfactory analysis.

Main Methods:

Utilized olfactory tests to assess the perception of specific male odors in individuals with and without a history of RPL.
Employed neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI) to examine brain activity in olfactory processing regions during odorant stimulation.
Compared olfactory perception thresholds and brain activation patterns between the RPL group and a control group.

Main Results:

Individuals with unexplained RPL demonstrated altered perception of certain male odors compared to controls.
Significant differences were observed in the activation patterns of brain regions associated with olfactory processing, including the piriform cortex and amygdala, in the RPL group.
These olfactory and neural alterations correlated with the history of pregnancy loss.

Conclusions:

Unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss is associated with distinct alterations in olfactory perception, specifically concerning male odors.
Differences in brain activity within olfactory processing centers suggest a neurobiological component to RPL.
These findings open new avenues for understanding the pathophysiology of RPL and potentially developing novel diagnostic or therapeutic strategies targeting the olfactory system.